John Appel has worked as a professional cameraman/director since '87. An an independent filmmaker Appel directed more than 30 documentaries for cinema and television. Worked as a cameraman on more than 50 documentaries.

Appel studied Gymnasium ß Classical Languages and Literature in the University of Amsterdam and graduated as cameraman and documentary director at the Dutch Film and Television Academy. In 2000, established a production company with filmmaker Heddy Honigmann (VOF Appel&Honigmann). Appel is a Guest lecturer at the Dutch Film and Television Academy (since 2000) and many (inter)national workshops; Commissioning editor for HUMAN, the Humanistic TV Broadcaster (since 2006), Coach for young professional filmmakers, among his other activities.

In 1999, he won the Joris Ivens Award at IDFA for the film Andre Hazes/ She Believes in Me, the most successful documentary film in Dutch cinema released in 40 years. His film The Last Victory (2004) won many international awards and was nominated for Best European Documentary 2004. In 2009 he won the IDFA Award for Best Dutch Documentary for the film The Player, also nominated for Best Feature Length Documentary 2009.