{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = An African Election | image = An African Election poster film.jpg | alt = | caption = | director = Jarreth Merz<br>Kevin Merz | producer = Jarreth Merz<br>Franco Agustoni<br>Brigitte Agustoni<br>Luisella Realini<br>Silvana Bezzola Rigolini<br>Tiziana Soudani | writer = Jarreth Merz<br>Erika Tasini<br>Shari Yantra Marcacci | screenplay = | starring = | music = Patrick Kirst<br>Ghanaba | cinematography = Topher Osborn<br>Kevin Merz | editing = Samir Samperisi | studio = | distributor = | released = {{Film date|2010|10|df=yes}} | runtime = 89 minutes | country = United States<br>Switzerland | language = English | gross = }} '''''An African Election''''' is a documentary film directed by Jarreth Merz and Kevin Merz about Ghana’s 2008 general election. It won awards at the Roma Independent Film Festival, the Atlanta Film Festival, and Visions du Réel, and was screened at festivals including Sundance, Locarno, Solothurn, and Yamagata.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
== Synopsis == As Ghana prepares for its 2008 general election, the film follows political events in Accra during the election period.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=An African Election |url=https://www.swissfilms.ch/de/movie/an-african-election/5fb9d11ad0674ce4882d63234a2de183 |access-date=30 March 2026 |website=Swiss Films |language=de}}</ref>
== Production == The project began as Jarreth Merz’s return to Ghana, where he had grown up, before developing into a documentary set against the backdrop of the country’s 2008 national election. The filmmakers were also given access to Ghana’s political “strong room”, offering a behind-the-scenes view of the country’s electoral process.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 November 2011 |title=Film maker learns new lessons in Ghana |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/culture/film-maker-learns-new-lessons-in-ghana/31652558 |access-date=30 March 2026 |website=SWI swissinfo |language=de}}</ref>
== Reception ==
=== Awards === The film won the New Vision Award at the 2011 Roma Independent Film Festival, the Grand Jury Award at the 2011 Atlanta Film Festival, and the Prix du Public de la ville de Nyon at the 2011 Visions du Réel.<ref name=":0" />
=== Critical response === ''The Toronto Star'' called ''An African Election'' "a gripping study of democracy at both its most fragile and its most vital".<ref>{{cite news |last=Anderson |first=Jason |date=December 30, 2011 |title=A fragile democracy springs into action |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star-a-fragile-democracy-spr/170972812/ |work=The Toronto Star |access-date=April 23, 2025 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> ''The Hollywood Reporter'' wrote that Merz’s access to both presidential candidates and other political insiders gave the film "credibility and immediacy".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=31 January 2011 |title=SUNDANCE REVIEW: Gripping ‘An African Election’ Offers Insider’s Thrilling Look at Ghana Elections |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/sundance-review-gripping-african-election-94667/ |access-date=30 March 2026 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> ''The Los Angeles Times'' described the film as a "gripping examination" of Ghana’s 2008 presidential contest, adding that "the film team had a gift for being where the electoral action was".<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 November 2011 |title=‘An African Election’ review: Crucial vote for Ghana, democracy |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2011-nov-11-la-et-african-election-20111111-story.html |access-date=30 March 2026 |website=The Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
== Festival screenings == The film premiered in October 2010. It was later screened at festivals including the 2011 Locarno Film Festival, 2011 Filmfest Hamburg, 2011 Bergen International Film Festival, 2012 Solothurn Film Festival, and 2017 Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival.<ref name=":0" /> It was also screened in the World Cinema Documentary Competition at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.<ref name=":1" />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|http://politicalsafari.org}} *{{IMDb title|1674131}}
{{Africa Movie Academy Award for Best Documentary}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:African Election, An}} Category:2011 documentary films Category:2011 films Category:American documentary films Category:Documentary films about African politics Category:Documentary films about elections Category:Ghanaian documentary films Category:Swiss documentary films Category:Best Documentary Africa Movie Academy Award winners Category:Elections in Ghana Category:2011 English-language films Category:2011 American films Category:English-language documentary films Category:2011 Swiss films