Actor and scriptwriter Abel Mutua, alongside his business partner Phillip Karanja, has shared how their film company, Phil-It, earned impressive profits from their latest movie, Makosa Ni Yangu, released just last month. Mutua revealed that the film, which had a production cost of over Sh12 million, has managed to break even, and then some, despite the hefty budget.
“Makosa Ni Yangu cost us more than Sh12 million to produce. That doesn’t include the cost of the premiere event, which itself generated an equivalent profit,” Mutua explained. While the production budget was significant, the filmmakers didn’t solely foot the bill. Half of the budget came from their own pockets, while the remaining funds were sourced from their dedicated online film community and fanbase, a strategy they adopted after the success of their previous film, A Grand Little Lie.
Mutua further explained, “After the success of A Grand Little Lie—which we produced during the Covid-19 pandemic—we realized we didn’t need to rely on external investors. Our community of viewers is our primary source of funding. They enjoy our work, and in turn, they support us.”
The success of their first film was also a financial win. A Grand Little Lie made over Sh3 million from the sale of 17,000 links, priced at Sh200 each. Mutua revealed that the funds not only covered the film’s production costs but also provided enough to create another pilot project.
Though he did not disclose how many Makosa Ni Yangu links have been sold at Sh250 each on the Phil-It website, Mutua emphasized that their latest project has been a financial success. To boost profits, Mutua and Karanja organized a premiere for the movie in Nairobi, which was a resounding success with 6,000 people attending. Tickets for the event were sold at Sh2,500 each, and with a sold-out crowd, the event generated Sh15 million.
Makosa Ni Yangu is a deeply emotional drama inspired by a true story shared by Mutua on his popular Mkurugenzi YouTube channel. The film tells the harrowing tale of Nafisa, portrayed by Melisa Lesilale, a young woman trapped in an abusive relationship with a partner played by Pascal Tokodi. The film explores the psychological and physical toll of gender-based violence.
Mutua’s decision to self-finance and leverage the power of his community has proven to be a lucrative model for his production company, setting a new precedent for filmmakers in Kenya.
