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The First Hand Films Collection

First Hand Films (FHF) 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 distributes worldwide, 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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The First Hand Films Collection includes the following titles:

The Elected, Part 1 - imageThe Elected, Part 1

What does it take for women to run for the Israeli parliament? How are their obstacles the same, from left to right? Past and current female MPs talk about their experiences, revealing the complex status of women in Israel’s society and politics.

First Hand Films | 2022 | 54 minutes | College, Adults
The Elected, Part 2 - imageThe Elected, Part 2

What does it take for women to run for the Israeli parliament? How are their obstacles the same, from left to right? Past and current female MPs talk about their experiences, revealing the complex status of women in Israel’s society and politics.

First Hand Films | 2022 | 54 minutes | College, Adults
The Elected, Part 3 - imageThe Elected, Part 3

What does it take for women to run for the Israeli parliament? How are their obstacles the same, from left to right? Past and current female MPs talk about their experiences, revealing the complex status of women in Israel’s society and politics.

First Hand Films | 2022 | 54 minutes | College, Adults
Health for Sale - imageHealth for Sale

Access to essential pharmaceutical drugs in developing countries is critical. Why is it that 15 million people die from easily curable diseases in the Southern hemisphere every year? The film links together the First and Third World in a long trip inside the Pharma maze.

First Hand Films | 2007 | 52 minutes | College, Adults
Mona Lisa is Missing - imageMona Lisa is Missing

Who was the man who stole the Mona Lisa from the Louvre in 1911, hid it in his flat for two years and brought it back to Italy - and what were his motivations? An unsolved mystery. Until now. An investigative trip into the history of the most famous painting of all times.

First Hand Films | 2013 | 86 minutes | College, Adults
24 Hours Jerusalem | 6am Ep 1 - image24 Hours Jerusalem | 6am Ep 1

Shot simultaneously by 70 crews, this is a portrait of one day in the life of the world's most famous city full of contradictions, a multi-level unique experience. Behind the harsh politics of our days lie personal daily routines familiar to all. Following protagonists from all religions and backgrounds 24 HOURS JERUSALEM is an extraordinary message from the heart of a deeply conflicted region.

First Hand Films | 2014 | 26 minutes
24 Hours Jerusalem | 2am Ep 10 - image24 Hours Jerusalem | 2am Ep 10

Shot simultaneously by 70 crews, this is a portrait of one day in the life of the world's most famous city full of contradictions, a multi-level unique experience. Behind the harsh politics of our days lie personal daily routines familiar to all. Following protagonists from all religions and backgrounds 24 HOURS JERUSALEM is an extraordinary message from the heart of a deeply conflicted region.

First Hand Films | 2014 | 26 minutes
24 Hours Jerusalem | 9:30am Ep 2 - image24 Hours Jerusalem | 9:30am Ep 2

Shot simultaneously by 70 crews, this is a portrait of one day in the life of the world's most famous city full of contradictions, a multi-level unique experience. Behind the harsh politics of our days lie personal daily routines familiar to all. Following protagonists from all religions and backgrounds 24 HOURS JERUSALEM is an extraordinary message from the heart of a deeply conflicted region.

First Hand Films | 2014 | 26 minutes
24 Hours Jerusalem | 11:30am Ep 3 - image24 Hours Jerusalem | 11:30am Ep 3

Shot simultaneously by 70 crews, this is a portrait of one day in the life of the world's most famous city full of contradictions, a multi-level unique experience. Behind the harsh politics of our days lie personal daily routines familiar to all. Following protagonists from all religions and backgrounds 24 HOURS JERUSALEM is an extraordinary message from the heart of a deeply conflicted region.

First Hand Films | 2014 | 26 minutes
24 Hours Jerusalem | 12:30pm Ep 4 - image24 Hours Jerusalem | 12:30pm Ep 4

Shot simultaneously by 70 crews, this is a portrait of one day in the life of the world's most famous city full of contradictions, a multi-level unique experience. Behind the harsh politics of our days lie personal daily routines familiar to all. Following protagonists from all religions and backgrounds 24 HOURS JERUSALEM is an extraordinary message from the heart of a deeply conflicted region.

First Hand Films | 2014 | 26 minutes

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