Ghanaian feature film KING OF TɛMA is set to make its Atlanta premiere on Sunday, September 6, at Tribe & Spice.

The film, produced by Anibok Studios, is described by filmmaker and founder Kobina de Graft-Johnson as the “first feature film made in Tema, by Tema, about Tema.”

The Atlanta screening will be followed by a live conversation between de Graft-Johnson and Atlanta-based actress, producer and entrepreneur Tangi Miller.

Titled “Building Our Own Infrastructure,” the discussion will focus on ownership, access to capital, film distribution, technology and the future of African storytelling.

KING OF TɛMA received 10 Ghana Movie Awards nominations and won two awards for Best Editing and Best Original Song.

The film was also selected for the Black Star International Film Festival in Ghana and screened at the Reel Film Festival in Washington, D.C.

The Atlanta premiere is the latest stop in the film’s independent screening tour, which has taken it to Accra, New York, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Toronto and New Jersey.

Rather than relying solely on traditional distribution channels, Anibok Studios has been taking the film directly to audiences by securing venues, building local partnerships and organizing screenings in different cities.

Speaking about the strategy, Kobina de Graft-Johnson said the goal is to build a community around the film and create a sustainable infrastructure for African filmmakers to reach audiences.

KING OF TɛMA is set in the port city of Tema and follows Paa Kwesi, whose mother’s illness and mounting gambling debt draw him into the dangerous world of Alhaji, a powerful figure in the city.

The film explores themes of family, loyalty, desperation, power and betrayal, while incorporating Ghanaian languages alongside English.

The Atlanta event will also provide an opportunity to examine broader issues surrounding African cinema, including who owns African stories, how independent filmmakers can access funding and audiences, and how emerging technologies could transform film production and distribution.

The screening will take place at Tribe & Spice, located at 899 M.L.K. Jr. Drive NW, Atlanta, Georgia.

Doors open at 6 p.m., with networking beginning before the 7 p.m. screening. The live talkback is scheduled for 9:30 p.m.

Limited seating is available, and attendees can RSVP through the event organizers.

For more information, KING OF TɛMA is an independent Ghanaian feature film written and directed by Kobina de Graft-Johnson and produced by Anibok Studios, a film and media company focused on connecting Ghana, Africa and the global diaspora through independent storytelling and distribution.