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
- 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
- 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