FIRE

With years of experience as a TV director and editor-in-chief (joerivlekken.com), I created Vuurvonk to help production companies, communication agencies, advertising agencies, companies and organisations develop documentary, television and online projects.

Research & Development Support
For content-driven companies, Vuurvonk can temporarily take on part of your R&D process. While you stay focused on your current productions, I research, develop and sharpen the ideas that could become your next project.

I can take the lead independently, or work alongside your team as a co-creator.

Original Program Ideas
Alongside commissioned work, Vuurvonk also develops its own catalogue of original program ideas: concepts that are regularly researched, updated and shaped into pitch-ready proposals. This approach has already led to projects such as De Trein on VTM 2. Produced and made by De Mensen.

Beyond Branded Content
For companies and organisations, this offers a way to tell relevant stories connected to their world, raise awareness around important issues, attract new talent, or open up a subject to a wider audience – without becoming traditional branded content or corporate storytelling.

SPARK

We help you find the missing spark (Dutch translation: Vonk) that makes your digital stories come to life.

During the research and development phase, we dive deep into exploring and defining various perspectives, characters, settings, and the overall narrative structure. This phase is crucial as it sets the foundation for an early final pitch.

Typically, a broadcaster or production company presents an idea which I then refine, either individually or in collaboration with others. This involves establishing the aesthetic and narrative focus of the project.

The entire process leads up to a pitch, a pilot recording, or even a fully realized first episode.

Extracts from Fiskepark co-developed and co-written with Filip Lenaerts for De Mensen & VRT.

 

CATALOGUE

Discover fresh approaches to digital storytelling through the people who keep the tracks and trains rolling. Go behind the scenes of DE TREIN, an exclusive documentary series about the country’s largest and most iconic transport company, carrying more than 900,000 passengers every day. Explore a gripping, cinematic TV series about firefighting pilots and their crews. And get entertained by four AI geeks in a humorous talk show about artificial intelligence.

Send me a message info@vuurvonk.be or +32/476.54.09.12 for password access.

About

Vuurvonk is a project developed by Joeri Vlekken, an accomplished documentary director with a proven track record of collaborations with prestigious networks such as VRT EEN, VRT CANVAS, KETNET, RTBF, and ARTE. Throughout his career, his work has been broadcasted on various platforms and tv-channels including RTS, Amazon, Apple TV+, VPRO, NOS, MUBI, and others.

TATTOORIST (2026)

Tattoorist is a city-trip adventure series in which Tijs Vanneste discovers European cities through the eyes, stories and tattoos of local artists.

First Release – March 2026 – VRT CANVAS

Available on VRTMAX

Extracts from Tattoorist, a concept by De Hofleveranciers, further developed for VRT Canvas in my role as editor-in-chief.

VIBRATO (2024)

A heartfelt musical ode to the 40,000 people who face parkinson every day.

First Release – February 27th 2024 – VRT CANVAS

Extra run on International Parkinson Day – April 11th – 22.30 – VRT EEN +

Available on VRTMAX

Extracts from Vibrato developed and written with Phara de Aguirre for VRT Canvas

HET DORP ACHTER DE MUUR (2023)

What happens behind the walls of the Brussels prisons? This documentary series follows the lives of staff and inmates for a year as they move to a new building.

Release – October 2023 – VRTMAX – VRTCANVAS

Extracts from HET DORP ACHTER DE MUUR developed and written with Leentje Lybaert for VRT Canvas

Tattoorist

Vrt MAX
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