VERONIQUE ENGEL

Film Director

VICE World News

VICE World News

DOCUMENTARY

VICE World News

Tucked away in an alley in one of Amsterdam’s most circus-like areas, there’s a small family restaurant serving Caribbean and Japanese soul food according to Rastafarian principles. Izaba and Tomomi started TerraZen Centre together after living in Tokyo for 25 years, and combine their backgrounds with dishes like vegan jerk, karaage, and crunchy dragon rolls. Regardless of its chaotic surroundings, people find their way to this vegan utopia by an ‘organic pull’.

Director / producer: Veronique Engel
Creative: Rik Beune
DOP: Bo Bolderink
Editor: Floor Rugebregt
Sound: Daniel Berends 

2023

DOCUMENTARY

DOCUMENTARY

DOCUMENTARY

What drives me in documentary filmmaking is my desire to connect with people, explore their worlds and create intimate, visually beautiful records of worlds that others might see as insignificant, but I see as extraordinary. The choice between fiction and non-fiction filmmaking for me is easy. Non-fiction storytelling allows me to immerse myself in people’s realities, which are in my opinion infinitely more interesting than any story I could possibly write. 

It also provides a vehicle for exploring social issues and enacting real change in society. I enjoy living and working closely with my subjects over several years, learning in-depth about their identities, their interests, and what motivates them. The challenge of reflecting these things and any transformations they might go through on screen is something I relish.