Esther van Messel

Producer, Screenwriter, Editor, Director

Born 1965 in Vienna, Austria. Lives in Switzerland. 1990 Bachelor in Film & Television production and in history from the University of Tel Aviv. In 1990, she joined Warner Bros. Israel and became Head of Distribution. 1992-98 Producer of international feature films and documentaries as Head of Coproduction and Sales for an independent production company in Zurich. In 1998 founded her own company First Hand Films in Zurich and Berlin for world sales of documentaries and fiction films. Has been working as a lecturer and consultant for various organisations like EAVE Brussels, IDFA Forum Amsterdam, Cinemart Rotterdam, Eurodoc Paris, Avea Johannesburg, Eureka Warsaw and Tallinn, Another Finland, TV Media Business School Barcelona, Discovery Campus Munich, F&S Screen Training Ireland, the Filmacademy Ludwigsburg, the Erich Pommer Institut and the Austrian Parliament. Since 1999 she co-owns Vertical Strategy Ltd. in Leipzig, Germany.

Filmography
(a selection)

Director

1997
Fremd geboren by Esther van Messel

Screenwriter

2025
Songs of Sisterhood by Hanna Nobis
2024
Frauen erobern das Kunstbusiness by Sarah Rathgeb
2022
Polish Prayers by Hanna Nobis
1997
Fremd geboren by Esther van Messel

Editor

1997
Fremd geboren by Esther van Messel

Producer

2025
Songs of Sisterhood by Hanna Nobis
2025
Kalari by Maria Kaur Bedi, Satindar Singh Bedi
2024
Frauen erobern das Kunstbusiness by Sarah Rathgeb
2022
Systemrelevant aber unsichtbar by Hedwig Bäbler
2022
Polish Prayers by Hanna Nobis
2018
Beyond Boobs by Kristen Vermilyea, Stéphane Correa
2008
Jerusalem Cuts by Liran Atzmor
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