Filmmakers · Viewers · Venues

How It Works

TuWatch Africa connects African filmmakers, viewers, and venues. Here's how it works for each.

For Filmmakers
1

Create Your Filmmaker Profile

Register on TuWatch Africa and complete your filmmaker profile. Add your company name, biography, country, and website. Your profile is your public identity on the platform.

Takes 5 minutes
2

Submit Your Title

Fill in your title details: film name, tagline, synopsis, genre, country, duration, director, and cast. Upload your poster and set your price in Shilingi (₴). No video upload required at this stage. Use our AI tools to help craft your synopsis and generate title ideas.

All formats welcome
3

We Review Your Submission

Our team reviews every submission to ensure it meets our content standards. We check metadata accuracy, poster image quality, synopsis completeness, and rights compliance. You'll hear back within 3 business days.

Up to 3 business days
4

Your Title Goes Live

Once approved, your title is published on TuWatch Africa and discoverable by audiences across the continent. Your trailer, poster, and description are shown on the title page. Viewers can unlock your film using Shilingi from their wallet.

Instant activation on approval
5

You Earn

Every time a viewer unlocks your title, you earn 70% of the Shilingi price. TuWatch Africa retains 30% as a platform fee, which covers all payment processing costs. Payouts are made directly to you on our regular payout schedule.

To receive your earnings, add your preferred payout details to your filmmaker profile. Payouts are sent via M-Pesa (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) or bank transfer (all other African countries) within 5 business days of your request. A 7-day cooldown applies between payout requests.

70% to you, always
For Viewers
1

Browse for Free

Explore the full TuWatch Africa catalogue without an account. Read synopses, watch trailers, and discover new African stories. No subscription required to browse.

Always free to browse
2

Top Up Your Wallet

Create a free account and top up your Shilingi wallet using M-Pesa or card. Choose from 100 ₴, 200 ₴, 500 ₴, or 1,000 ₴. Your Shilingi never expire.

M-Pesa native
3

Unlock Once

Pay the listed Shilingi price to unlock a title. Your unlock is permanent. No rental window, no subscription, no recurring charge.

Pay once
4

Watch Forever

Unlocked titles live in your library permanently. Return whenever you want, as many times as you want, on any device. Your access never expires.

Watch forever
For Venues
1

Find a Title or Event

Browse the TuWatch Africa catalogue and identify a film or event you'd like to screen for your group, community, or organisation.

Any format, any genre
2

Get a Venue Licence

Contact us to request a venue screening licence for your chosen title. Venue licences cover a single group screening event and are priced separately from standard viewer unlocks.

Contact hello@tuwatch.africa
3

Pay Once

Pay the venue licence fee via M-Pesa or card. No recurring costs. Your licence covers a single screening for your group or audience.

One payment
4

Screen with a Private Link

We'll provide you with a private streaming link for your event. Share it with your audience and screen the film securely. The link is time-limited to your event window.

Private and secure
Formats We Accept
🎬
Films
Feature-length films, typically 60 minutes and above.
🎞
Short Films
Narrative or experimental shorts, typically under 40 minutes.
🎙
Documentaries
Factual and documentary films of any length.
📺
Series
Multi-episode serialised content. Each episode submitted individually.
📱
Micro Dramas
Short-form vertical or mobile-first dramatic content.
✏️
Animation
Animated films and series of any style or length.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I keep the rights to my film?
Yes, absolutely. You retain full ownership of your film. By submitting to TuWatch Africa, you grant us a non-exclusive licence to host and stream your title on the platform. You are free to distribute your film elsewhere simultaneously.
How do I upload my video?
You don't upload your video file upfront. Here's how it works: first, submit your title metadata (title, synopsis, poster, cast etc.) through the Storytellers portal. Our team reviews your submission. This takes up to 3 business days. If approved, we'll contact you with instructions to send your video file via SwissTransfer (free, no account needed, supports files up to 50GB). If your submission is not approved, we'll email you with specific feedback explaining exactly what needs to be changed before you resubmit.
What languages are supported?
We welcome films in any language spoken across the African continent: Swahili, Amharic, Zulu, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, French, Arabic, English, and more. We encourage subtitles in English or Swahili to maximise your audience reach.
What happens if my submission is rejected?
If your submission is not approved, you'll receive an email and a notification on your filmmaker dashboard explaining the specific reasons. Common reasons include incomplete metadata, poster image quality, or content that doesn't meet our guidelines. You're welcome to address the feedback and resubmit the same title directly from your dashboard.
Is there a submission fee?
No. Submitting your title to TuWatch Africa is completely free. We only earn when you earn. Our 30% platform fee is deducted from viewer unlock payments, not charged upfront.
How do I receive my earnings?
Once your title starts earning, request a payout from your Filmmaker Dashboard. Add your M-Pesa number (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) or bank account details (all other countries) to your profile under Edit Profile. Click Request Payout. We'll process your 70% earnings within 5 business days. A confirmation email is sent when your request is received. A 7-day cooldown applies between payout requests.

Ready to share your story?

Join TuWatch Africa and put your film in front of audiences across the continent.

Submit Your Title →
Questions? Email us at hello@tuwatch.africa