John Appel

 Schooling:  Gymnasium ß Classical Languages and Literature, University of Amsterdam Film Academy, Amsterdam, graduated as cameraman and documentary director

Works as professional cameraman/director since '87
Directed more than 30 documentaries, mainly for television and some feature length for cinema.
Worked as a cameraman on more than 50 documentaries.

Started in 2000 a production company with filmmaker Heddy Honigmann
(VOF Appel&Honigmann)
 
 Other activities:
Coach on several films by novice film-makers.
Guest lecturer at the Dutch Film and Television Academy (since ’00)
Adviser to the Dutch Cultural Broadcasting Fund (since ’98) and the Dutch Film Fund (since ’00)
Jury member Joris Ivens Award IDFA '00 and Int. Filmfestival Karlovy Vary '05
Teacher of IDFA-workshop for new filmmakers ('01)
Master-class at IDFA 2001
Tutor at the first International Documentary Course at the Binger Institute ('05)

Won in '99 the Joris Ivens Award at IDFA for the film Andre Hazes/ She believes in me, about a famous Dutch singer. This documentary was the most successful film in Dutch cinema release in 40 years.
The last victory ('03) won several prizes at international film festivals and was nominated
for the European Academy Award for Best Documentary

The last victory was released also in UK, Australia and Poland
Nominated for Best European Documentary '04
Won 2 Golden Calves at the Dutch Film Festival '04
Won Grand Prize/Best Film at:
    Infinity Festival, Alba (Italy) '04
    Ismailia Int. Film Festival, (Egypt) '04
    Krasnagorsk Int. Film Festival (Moscow) '04

 Festivals: IDFA, Karlovy Vary, Toronto, Berlin

 Filmography (among others):

Radio Daniëlle ('88) 35 min./16 mm
documentary about a local radio pirate 
Awarded with Canon City Award '88 for best student film

Johnny Meijer ('93)  60 min./16 mm           
documentary about a Amsterdam accordionist
Awarded with Audience Award at IDFA '93
Cinema release ’94

Vredenhof ('97) 57 min./16mm     
documentary about the regular visitors to
the Vredenhof cemetery in Amsterdam

Little Lithuania ('97) 60 min./16mm   
documentary about Lithuanian exiles on an estate in England

Trench of  Death ('99) 65 min./16 mm
documentary about the last surviving five soldiers of a Belgian trench in WW 1

Andre Hazes/She believes in me ('99) 90 min./35 mm
portrait of the famous Dutch folksinger

The promised land ('00) 50 min./16mm
documentary based on a newspaper article about a man found dead in his apartment.
Awarded with Special Prize on the Festival of Milano '01

Naomi & her mother ('03) 25 min./16mm
short documentary about a 11 years old girl and her mother
who's suffering from manic-depression
Selected at IDFA '03
Festivals: Hot Docs (Toronto)

Senegal Surplace ('03)  50 min.
documentary roadmovie during the annual cyclist tour in Senegal

The last victory ('03)  90 min./ 35mm
documentary about the Palio, the famous yearly horserace in Siena (Italy)

There goes my heart ('05)  58 min.
documentary about 7 elderly junks living in a corridor
IDFA '05
 
The last honour ('05) 50 min.
documentary about funerals paid by government
Productions in cooperation with Heddy Honigmann

Good husband, dear son ('01)  50 min./16mm
a portrait of a Bosnian village where almost all the men were killed during the last
Yugoslavian War
IDFA '01

Dame la mano  ('03)  120 min./35mm
documentary about Cuban refugees looking for relief in a dancehall in New Jersey
IDFA '03