Writing Hawa
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Writing Hawa

Forced into marriage as a child, Hawa learns to read and write when she's 52. With the support of her daughter, the filmmaker, she even opens a small textile business. However, with the return of the Taliban to power, her dreams, along with those of her daughter and granddaughter, are shattered as they face new struggles.

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First Hand Films must make people laugh, cry, fall in love and learn something.

First Hand Films is an award-winning international sales company, a theatrical distributor in Switzerland’s four language regions and a producer based in Zürich.

Run by Esther van Messel since 1998, FHF finds partners, finance and deals with the entire production process. FHF has sold thousands of licenses worldwide, turned over more than twenty million Euro and its films have won many awards including Emmies, Golden Roses and Oscar Nominations.

FHF works with ambitious and accessible projects worldwide, combining intelligence, practical knowledge and experience. Today, First Hand Films have been seen by hundreds of millions of people all over the world, in cinemas, on TV and online.

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FHF Production

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Dedicated Production and tailor made Distribution for every story in every medium everywhere.

First Hand Films is an award-winning international sales company, a theatrical distributor in Switzerland’s four language regions and a producer based in Zürich.

Run by Esther van Messel since 1998, FHF finds partners, finance and deals with the entire production process. FHF has sold thousands of licenses worldwide, turned over more than twenty million Euro and its films have won many awards including Emmies, Golden Roses and Oscar Nominations.

FHF works with ambitious and accessible projects worldwide, combining intelligence, practical knowledge and experience. Today, First Hand Films have been seen by hundreds of millions of people all over the world, in cinemas, on TV and online.

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