immersive director & creative producer
Utrecht based independent director with a curiosity for how technology sharpens our understanding of being human |
creative producer at studio zzzap ❥
Selected in competition in the Venice Immersive section 2026
of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival
On show at ENTR museum
Amsterdam 1652
Director & Screenwriter Nienke Huitenga Broeren, Project lead Paul van der Meer, Development & Design BackLight, Music Joshua Dutrieux, Motion Capture Persona 3D, Historical Advice Hugo Post, Annick Gossen, Thomas Dresscher, Lianne Wilhelmus, Bob Pierik
Produced by ENTR - Vincent Slangen & Alan Luring
“I sought the epic in the details, where daily life and the friction of change converge. ”
PRESS
'Amsterdamse virtual reality op het Filmfestival in Venetië' - Sanne Schuller
Parool.nl - 17 juli 2026 > read more
'Venice Immersive selection and competition announced'
Labiennale.org - 15 juli 2026 > read more
'Drie Nederlandse projecten in competitie Venice Immersive' - Joost Broeren-Huitenga
Filmkrant.nl - 15 juli 2026 > read more
'Venice: Margot Robbie, Andy Serkis, Omar Sy & David Bowie Projects Among Immersive Lineup' - Zac Ntim
Deadline.com - 15 juli 2026 > read more
'VR heeft een huis nodig, zoals film een bioscoop.' - Dana Linssen
Filmkrant - 17 juni 2026 > read more
'In VR-museum Entr beleef je Amsterdam in 1652 als walvisvaarder, drukker of ambachtsvrouw: "Wij willen geen toeristenattractie neerzetten"' - Edo Dijksterhuis
Parool - 23 mei 2026 > read more
'In virtualrealitymuseum Entr wandel je door het Amsterdam van 1652' - Inger Duursma
Volkskrant - 21 mei 2026 > read more
'Deze ondernemer brengt het 17e eeuwse Amsterdam tot leven'
BNR radio - 21 mei 2026 > listen here
'In eerste VR-museum van Nederland kun je dwalen door het Amsterdam van 1652 en tekent Rembrandt jouw portret'
Telegraaf - 21 mei 2026 > read more
Directed by Maartje Wegdam & Nienke Huitenga Broeren
A production of Studio Biarritz and Copper View Film Productions
Synopsis
Sonja has no memory of the crucial moment in her early childhood that saved her life: the separation from her parents in 1943. The discovery of three silver rings that once belonged to Sonja’s parents triggers the director to begin prompting her about the past. In the emotional journey that follows, you accompany Sonja through skewed memories, elusive images and reimaginations towards one moment of loss and grief during the Second World War. A true story that leads you from Paramaribo to Amsterdam and into a psychiatric facility called Het Apeldoornsche Bosch. Combining conversations with Sonja, mesmerizing 3D modelling, animation and personal footage, Lacuna explores who we are in relation to who we were. Meanwhile you will find truth in imagination, beauty in the unknown and an act of unconditional love.
TOUR
Past events 2025–2026
- 30 January - 9 February — premiere at IFFR 2025
- 12 - 25 April — at EYE Filmmuseum — tickets
- 4 May — at OBA Amsterdam — free entrance
- 5 May — at Stadschouwburg Utrecht — tickets
- 4 May - 1 June — Extended show at EYE — tickets
- 13 - 23 May — at Cannes XR, immersive competition — press release
- 19 July - 31 August — at Apeldoornsche Bos / Coda Apeldoorn
- 26 August - 3 October — at Nederlands Film Festival — in competition
- 9 Oktober - 3 december — at various film theatres — distributed by NU:Reality > program in English
- 10 October - 26 October — at Kaohsiung Film Festival — in competition
- 21 October - 23 November — ART*VR (Prague) — in competition
- 30 October - 8 November — at Geneva Film Festival
- 13 December — at Oorzaken festival
- 23 - 31 January 2026 — at Fipadoc Biarritz
- 4 - 5 March — at Luxemburg Film Fest
- 14 - 17 March — at SXSW / XR Spotlight Selection — Read it in VARIETY
- 23 - 25 June — Immersive Tech Week
- 2 - 5 July — Beyond Munich
PRESS
'Ook zonder de oude techhelden blijft South By Southwest een belevenis' - Jeroen van Erp
Financieel Dagblad - 20 maart 2026
'Hoe virtueel wordt onze toekomst?' - Jop Emonts & Yoeri van Esseveld
VERS Magazine, editie #13 - 15 januari 2026
'Architecting a Multi-Threaded Narrative of Recovered Traumatic Memories in "Lacuna"' - Kent Bye
Voices of VR - 18 juli 2025
'Nederlandse VR-documentaire over Joodse vrouw in WO II in wereldpremière in Cannes' - Jacobien van der Kleij
NOS - 14 mei 2025
'Is VR zo vluchtig als een performance?' - Dana Linssen
NRC - 6 mei 2025
'Twee Nederlandse VR-titels in competitie Cannes' - Kees Driessen
Filmkrant - 30 april 2025
'In VR-documentaire "Lacuna" stapt de kijker ín de herinneringen van een onderduiker: "Als een stille getuige"' - Edo Dijksterhuis
Parool - 12 april 2025
'Het is een ode aan vroege herinneringen' - Leo Bankersen
Filmkrant - 9 april 2025
'Eigenlijk wil je alleen kunstenaars AI toevertrouwen, bewijst een tentoonstelling in Eye Filmmuseum' - Dana Linssen
NRC - 8 april 2025
Bakkus
A production by
Merel uit de Machine
created by Hay Kranen
and Nienke Huitenga Broeren
Bakkus, the story gobbler, is an interactive installation where children create their own audio story together with a machine. Playfully, they discover how their voice, imagination and choices shape the narrative. The installation blends time travel, improvisation and digital storytelling, inspired by techniques such as cadavre exquis and theatre sports, but reimagined in a new, digital form.
TOUR 2026
18 MAY / DEN Immersive experience day @ Utrecht
11 APRIL / De Cammeleur @ Dongen Cultuurhuis
1 MARCH / Performing Bits @ Schouwburg Utrecht
29 MARCH / FORUM GRONINGEN
PAST EVENTS
Premiered at Cinekid Festival 2025
Presented at the national filmdebat by DAFF 2025
Visit Amsterdam’s famous Botermarkt 1675 together
As multi-user experiences are the next frontier of creative storytelling and directing experiences, I excitedly collaborate with ENTR to launch an intimate and human perspective on a cute corner of Amsterdam. I directed and wrote the script for the production, focusing on bringing forth women’s voices, stories of daily life, exciting details of the famous fair and the authentic diversity of citizens of late 17th century Amsterdam.
In September 1675, the Botermarkt – now known as Rembrandtplein – was the vibrant setting of a lively fair. 350 years later, this unique moment in Amsterdam’s history is brought back to life in the heart of the city.
Using the latest VR technology, you don’t just observe the past – you step into it. Wander through the market, explore the stalls, purchase goods, and soak up the atmosphere of the time. — You’ll find yourself right in the middle of history, surrounded by the people of 17th-century Amsterdam.
XR Must, 16 december 2025
Building a VR Museum for the Next 10 Years: Vincent Slangen’s ENTR Project in Amsterdam (read more)
PAROOL, 1 oktober 2025
“In deze VR-ervaring in de Nieuwe Kerk wandel je rond op de Botermarkt in het zeventiende-eeuwse Amsterdam” (lees hier verder)
LATEST WORK
DRIFT is an audio odyssey and an openworld podcast, that generates a never ending daynamic listening experience in your favourite podcast app. Step into a techo-fluid future of the Netherlands, 500 years from now. A world where water logged country, AI infused systems and a post-climate crisis society blossoms.
A creation of Merel uit de Machine and VPRO Medialab
DRIFT (2024)| 370min (approx.)
This Conversation is Off the Record (2023) | 60min
Off the Record builds on Peleds decade-long study of the consequences of risk-based profiling by Dutch police. She takes a deep dive into the crime prevention systems that are supposed to predict which young individuals will become criminals. The main characters are a journalist, a police officer, a human rights lawyer, and 125 youngsters. Peled combines radical imagination with thorough research to pose these questions: Who writes the script that dictates our lives?
A performative lecture by Nirit Peled, created in collaboration with Nienke Huitenga Broeren, Keez Duyves and Anne Maike Mertens.