First Hand Films
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 1998 |
| Founder | |
| Headquarters | , Switzerland |
Area served |
|
| Website | www |
First Hand Films is a Swiss independent film production, sales agency and theatrical distribution company based in Zurich, Switzerland. Founded in 1998 by Esther van Messel, the company is known for its work with international documentaries and selected fiction projects, representing films to distributors, platforms, broadcasters and festivals worldwide.
As a theatrical distributor, First Hand Films releases fiction and non-fiction films across Switzerland, operating in the country's three main language regions.[1]
History
[edit]First Hand Films was founded in Zurich in 1998 by Esther van Messel as a documentary sales and distribution company.[2] In its early years, the company established itself in the international non-fiction market through worldwide sales acquisitions, including early titles such as The Long Way Home, which later received the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.[3]
During the 2000s, First Hand Films became active in representing documentaries premiering at major international festivals. In 2008, the company handled international sales for Corridor #8 and Brides of Allah, both presented in the International Forum at the Berlin International Film Festival.[4]
In 2009, First Hand Films handled international sales for Burma VJ - Reporting from a Closed Country, an IDFA-winning documentary directed by Anders Østergaard.[5] The film later received an Academy Awards nomination for Best Documentary Feature at the 83rd Academy Awards. In the same year, the company launched Filmsbazaar.com, an online platform designed to connect independent filmmakers with buyers and financiers.[6] In 2011, First Hand Films expanded into in-house production with the creation of Kiss the Frog Films GmbH, focusing on original documentary and transmedia projects alongside co-productions and executive production work.[7]
In 2019, First Hand Films had entered a strategic partnership with Austrian investor Hansjürgen Schmölzer of BSX Austria, who acquired a minority stake in the company. The investment supported the company in international documentary sales, production, and co-production activities.[8] In 2020, First Hand Films launched the First Hand Fund in partnership with BSX Graz to support larger documentary, series and feature productions with social and political themes.[9]
Through the 2010s and 2020s, the company continued to handle international sales for documentaries premiering at festivals including IDFA, Venice, Berlinale, CPH:DOX and Hot Docs. Titles represented by the company during this period included Ambulance (2016), Hobbyhorse Revolution (2017),[10] A-ha: The Movie (2020),[11] Lost Boys (2021),[12] Trust Me (2021),[12] Name of the Game (2021),[13] 300 Trillion – The Debt Trap (2022),[14] Life is Beautiful (2023), Life Is Not a Competition But I Am Winning (2023),[15] Call Me Dancer (2023),[16] Writing Hawa (2024),[17] House of Hope (2025),[18] Elvira Notari: Beyond Silence (2025)[19] and Yo (Love Is a Rebellious Bird) (2026).[20]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Director(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Photographer | Dariusz Jablonski | IDFA Best Documentary |
| 2003 | Arna’s Children | Juliano Mer Khamis | Tribeca Best Documentary |
| 2008 | Brides of Allah | Natalie Assouline | Berlinale Forum; FIPRESCI Award |
| 2009 | Burma VJ | Anders Østergaard | Academy Award nominee; IDFA winner |
| 2011 | The Guantanamo Trap | Thomas Wallner | Hot Docs Special Jury Prize |
| 2012 | Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction | Sophie Huber | Venice official selection |
| 2013 | Trespassing Bergman | Hynek Pallas, Jane Magnusson | Venice Classics premiere |
| 2014 | 24 Hours Jerusalem | Volker Heise | German TV Award winner |
| 2015 | Nice People | Karin af Klintberg, Anders Helgeson | CPH:DOX Best of Fest |
| 2016 | Presenting Princess Shaw | Ido Haar | IDFA premiere |
| 2016 | Ambulance | Mohamed Jabaly | Sheffield Doc/Fest premiere |
| 2017 | Hobbyhorse Revolution | Selma Vilhunen | Hot Docs premiere; Tampere awards |
| 2018 | Primas | Laura Bari | IDFA premiere |
| 2019 | The Reformist – A Female Imam | Marie Skovgaard | CPH:DOX premiere |
| 2020 | Town of Glory | Dmitry Bogolyubov | |
| 2021 | A-ha: The Movie | Thomas Robsahm, Aslaug Holm | Tribeca premiere; Worldwide theatrical release |
| 2021 | Trust Me | Emil Trier | CPH:DOX premiere |
| 2021 | Lost Boys | Joonas Neuvonen, Sadri Cetinkaya | CPH:DOX premiere |
| 2022 | 300 Trillion – The Debt Trap | Rudolph Herzog | ARTE/ARD co-production |
| 2022 | Polish Prayers | Hanka Nobis | DOC NYC premiere; Zurich Film Award (Best Director) |
| 2022 | The Illusion of Abundance | Erika Gonzalez Ramirez, Matthieu Lietaert | |
| 2023 | Life Is Beautiful | Mohamed Jabaly | IDFA premiere; Winner Best Directing Award |
| 2023 | Life Is Not a Competition, But I’m Winning | Julia Fuhr Mann | Venice Critics’ Week premiere |
| 2023 | Our Land, Our Freedom | Meena Nanji, Zippy Kimundu | IDFA premiere; BBC Africa Eye acquisition |
| 2023 | A Way to B | Jos de Putter, Clara van Gool | IDFA premiere |
| 2024 | Writing Hawa | Najiba Noori, Rasul Noori | IDFA premiere |
| 2024 | Women Conquer the Art Business | Sarah Rathgeb | |
| 2024 | Devi | Subina Shrestha | Hot Docs premiere |
| 2025 | Abortion in the Holy Land | Efrat Shalom Danon | Haifa Film Festival premiere |
| 2025 | Elvira Notari: Beyond Silence | Valerio Ciriaci | Venice Film Festival premiere |
| 2025 | House of Hope | Marjolein Busstra | IDFA premiere |
| 2025 | Palestine Comedy Club | Alaa ‘Regash’ Aliabdallah, Charlotte Knowles | DOC NYC premiere |
| 2025 | The Beauty of the Donkey | Dea Gjinovci | Zurich Film Festival premiere |
| 2025 | The Srebrenica Tape | Chiara Sambuchi | Movies that Matter premiere |
| 2025 | Who Is Still Alive | Nicolas Wadimoff | Swiss entry for the Best International Feature Film at 99th Academy Awards |
| 2026 | Yo (Love Is a Rebellious Bird) | Anna Fitch, Banker White | Berlinale premiere; Silver Bear Winner |
| 2026 | Don't Ask Me If I Killed | Helena Maksyom | Winner of Main Prize of Docu/Ukraine Competition at DocuDays UA |
References
[edit]- ↑ www.sibenaler.com. "Filmverleih: First Hand Films alle Filme (TITEL) auf CineImage". www.cineimage.ch (in German). Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ↑ Macnab, Geoffrey (2023-05-03). "BDE interview: Esther van Messel, First Hand Films". Business Doc Europe. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Green, Jennifer. "First Hand Films takes int'l rights on Truth & Lies". Screen. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Blaney, Martin. "First Hand shakes on Corridor #8, Brides Of Allah". Screen. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ "First Hand Drives Sales For Burma VJ". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved 2026-02-26.
- ↑ "First Hand Films Create Filmsbazaar". Nordisk Film & TV Fond. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Cooper, Sarah. "First Hand Films moves into production". Screen. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Cite error: The named reference
:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ↑ Cunningham, Nick (2020-10-26). "First Hand Films partners with investor on new fund; Hansen departs". Business Doc Europe. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Mitchell, Wendy. "First Hand boards sales on Finnish doc 'Hobbyhorse Revolution'". Screen. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Ravindran, Manori (2020-02-23). "'A-ha: The Movie' on 'Take on Me' Band to Receive Worldwide Release (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- 1 2 Pham, Annika (2021-04-14). "Justin Bieber Concert Fraudster Documentary Is Boarded By First Hand Films (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Abbatescianni, Davide (2021-11-14). "First Hand Films Picks Up IDFA Frontlight Doc 'Name of the Game' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Ravindran, Manori (2022-12-21). "'300 Trillion – The Debt Trap' Documentary, From Rudolph Herzog, Acquired by First Hand Films, Unveils Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Barraclough, Leo (2023-08-25). "Documentary About Gender in Athletics 'Life Is Not a Competition But I Am Winning' Acquired by First Hand Films Ahead of Venice Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Macnab, Geoffrey. "US 'Billy Elliot'-style doc 'Call Me Dancer' sells to Toei for Japan for First Hand Films (exclusive)". Screen. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ "Afghan women documentary 'Writing Hawa' boarded for sales ahead of IDFA premiere (exclusive)". Screen. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (2025-10-27). "First Hand Films Boards West Bank Waldorf School Doc 'House Of Hope' – IDFA". Deadline. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Vivarelli, Nick (2025-08-30). "'Elvira Notari: Beyond Silence' About Italy's First Female Film Director Acquired by First Hand Films Ahead of Venice Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Barraclough, Leo (2026-01-20). "First Hand Films Acquires 'YO Love Is a Rebellious Bird' Ahead of World Premiere in Berlinale Competition (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2026-01-31.