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First Hand Films Sells ‘Our Land, Our Freedom’ to the BBC, Takes Female Empowering ‘Kalari’ to Visions du Réel (EXCLUSIVE)

While heading to Visions du Réel with the India-set ‘Kalari’ doc, First Hand Films sells Kenyan ‘Our Land, Our Freedom’ to the BBC.

“ Our Land, Our Freedom,” a Kenyan/U.S./Portuguese co-production, and the upcoming India-set “Kalari,” to be pitched in Visions du Réel docu festival’s Swiss Preview showcase, epitomize what First Hand Films stands for. “What’s important for First Hand Films is defending diversity, minorities, female voices and new talent,” said Esther van Messel, CEO of the doc sales, production and Swiss distribution shingle, ahead of Visions du Réel in Nyon, Switzerland. Citing the festival hit “Life Is Beautiful” by Mohamed Jabali, about the Palestinian director’s experience of being stuck in limbo in Northern Norway when the borders to Gaza close, van Messel stresses that it was recently acquired by Al-Jazeera.

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