•Mutua urged the government to help promote the film industry through film centres
Abel Mutua and his team at Philit production have made about Sh2 million profit from their latest project, 'Click Click Bang'.
Mutua said the film's expenses reached Sh7 million.
"From pre-production to marketing, we've used seven million. The returns are almost hitting Sh9 million, so it was successful. We really appreciate because most film projects don't give back the profit. Most people look for funding abroad."
He asked filmmakers to make a point of budgeting for marketing, "otherwise there is nothing you'll be doing. Because Nairobi only is where people go to theatres to watch movies, and that is not right. We need to rectify that".
Mutua urged the government to help promote the film industry.
"If there is a film centre in all the 47 counties, they will have pushed us a thousand steps ahead. They need to make sure the infrastructure is around the country."
When he did his Eldoret show, Mutua said he had to put the show under a tent.
"If the government could just work on that, we'd be set. And now if they ensured every county had its film centre, we'd be revolutionary."
Mutua took home six awards at the just-concluded Kalasha international awards.
"As a company, we've taken home five awards, as an individual, I walk away with six," he said.
"We wanted seven and I was eyeing the best screenwriter award but I didn't get it. I felt like crying but that's okay. Next time."
Mutua had some advice for film producers. "Producers have this thing where they create films then call their fellow producers to come watch. It shouldn't be like that. Sinema ni ya wananchi, tukifanya cinema tuite wananchi."
He revealed that he and his team will be releasing one film project every year.