We love good television, and we love to make people watch it.
We are watch-makers.

Accessible and passionate programming We offer one-offs, series, slots, theme nights, and strands. Our catalogue includes around more than two hundred hand-picked films from all over the world and is constantly renewed.

International productions As international producers, we offer the services of world sales agents and executive producers at the same time. We also handle commissioned programs, and we facilitate and coordinate co-productions anywhere.

Talent and funds We have access to stories, directors, producers, broadcasters and funding bodies. We make your life easier: we find partners and finance and simply make things work. We deal with the entire production process as its ‘foreign ministers’ - and then we deliver.

Strong, independent partners We sell and produce ambitious and realistic films and projects worldwide, combining unique intelligence with practical knowledge and experience. In our first decade, we have sold hundreds of licenses, turned over close to ten million Euro, solved zillions of problems, and remained autonomous.

Now let’ s make them watch

Esther van Messel (owner and managing director),
Gitte Hansen (deputy director), Ayse Poffet (business manager),
Sarah Born (research and development)

The small print hard facts Since 1998, Esther van Messel runs FHF in Zurich and Berlin for international distribution of documentaries, TV series and fiction films. In 2010, FHF represents close to 300 films and 200 producers from all over the world. FHF acts as executive producer for selected projects and is present at all major festivals around the year, with booths and stands at the main markets - Berlin, Cannes, Mip, La Rochelle and Amsterdam.

First Hand Films have competed in Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Rotterdam, Locarno, Sundance, Toronto and many other festivals. Its very first pick-up went on to receive the Oscar© for Best Documentary Feature. Since then, most First Hand Films have won awards: Emmy, Prix Europa, IDFA main awards, Biarritz, Banff, Grimme-Preis, Grand Prix Nyon, National Film Awards, European Film Awards, Silver Leopards, Golden Rose Montreux and more.

In 2010, First Hand Films have been seen by many millions of people.