Knokke Talks - "I want to make films that set something in motion."

Ask an average Flemish girl what she wants to become later in life and the answers often fall into familiar stereotypes: nurse, flight attendant, movie star. The stage fascinated Charlotte Verminck (26) from a young age as well, but, she says, “I was too shy to stand on stage myself, so I discovered my place behind the camera.” And she has clearly found that place. Fifteen years later, her short film Mind of Thoughts won awards in New York and Barcelona. Earlier, she had already received the award for Best International Film in Los Angeles.

Text by Mario De Wilde - Knokke Talks - December 2025

WHAT WAS YOUR CHILDHOOD LIKE?

“Until the age of fourteen, I lived on Pannenstraat, while my parents had their office on Van Bunnenlaan. I went to school at Heilig Hartschool, Sint-Bernardus Institute and Sint-Jozefslyceum, so I actually stayed in Knokke until the end of secondary school. I was an only child, but I never truly felt alone. I always had a rich inner world, and as a child I could wander in my thoughts for hours or invent stories in my head.”

DID YOUR PARENTS HAVE ANY CONNECTION TO FILM?

“Not directly. My father is an accountant and tax professional, and my mother is a therapist. They come from two completely different worlds, but I now realize that I inherited from them the two extremes that I combine in my work: the analytical and the emotional. From my father, I learned to understand the business side of film — budgets, contracts, and structure. From my mother, I inherited the ability to listen, to understand people, and the human aspect that drives every story.”

WERE THEY IMMEDIATELY SUPPORTIVE WHEN YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO ENTER THE FILM WORLD?

“They were actually enthusiastic from the start. They always taught me that it’s a blessing to know what your passion is, and that you should follow that path — no matter how uncertain it may seem. I think their trust gave me the courage to walk my own path, even when it led beyond the traditional routes. They also fully embrace my childhood dream of one day living and working in the U.S. My mother already gives me extra hugs now, to make up for what she’ll miss later.” (laughs)

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE FILM AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE?

“As a child, I was already walking around with a camera and was fascinated by theatre and musicals. I was just too shy to stand on stage myself. So I discovered my place behind the camera, where I could organize, bring people together, scout locations, and build schedules. That’s how I discovered editing — and through that process, I actually found my voice.

I also loved writing, poetry, and psychology, and in secondary school I played the drums. When film crossed my path, all those puzzle pieces came together: the visual, the emotional, the musical, and the human. Film is, for me, the medium through which I explore why people think, feel, and act the way they do. Where words sometimes fall short, an image can touch something deeper.”

DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR FIRST CINEMA EXPERIENCE?

“That was the Disney classic Up at the Beverly Screens in Knokke. My mother and I still talk about the first time we saw it. We’re both very sensitive, and the story touched us deeply. We cried throughout the entire film, while the rest of the theater didn’t shed a single tear.

That was the first moment I truly realized how powerful cinema can be — that something fictional can nonetheless stir something very real within you. These days, I’m drawn to psychological drama, mystery, and thriller, often with a poetic and deeper layer. But I can also deeply enjoy a musical romantic drama.”

DID THE FILM WORLD TURN OUT THE WAY YOU EXPECTED?

“In many ways, yes: that it isn’t all glitter and glamour, that you have to learn to deal with rejection on a daily basis, and keep going. What I underestimated was the extent to which connections, interests, and agendas often play a role. I entered this world with a genuine love for the art and for the medium, but quickly realized that not everyone approaches it with the same sincerity, love, and integrity. That can be confronting at times, but it’s also motivating — it strengthens my resolve to stay true to my own values and my way of working.”

WE CAN’T AVOID IT: WHAT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FILM YOU’VE EVER SEEN?

“Oh, that’s difficult. Nomadland by Chloé Zhao truly changed my life. That film showed me that greatness doesn’t depend on scale — that with a small team, you can tell something immense. The series Big Little Lies is something I always return to, because it shows that strength and vulnerability can coexist perfectly. The way the series is directed and edited continues to fascinate me. A must-watch, in my eyes.”

WHAT IS IT LIKE WORKING IN THIS WORLD OF GLAMOUR AND JET SET?

“I think it mainly comes down to staying true to who you are, however cliché that may sound. In a world that moves fast and often seems focused on appearances, I try to constantly remember why I do what I do: a love for the craft, for stories, and for people. I’ve also worked on several sets that felt very unsafe. Because of that, I took the step to build my own productions through my own production company, so that others — especially women — never have to feel that way.”

DO YOU WATCH FILMS DIFFERENTLY NOW THAN YOU DID BEFORE?

“My passion for editing began when I was ten, so even back then I watched films with a technical eye. Now I also try to watch films through the lens of: how would I have approached this? That’s what’s so fascinating about our industry — no two directors would ever film the same script in the same way.”

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT NEXT?

“My focus is on continuing to tell deeply layered stories with complex, female protagonists — films that set something in motion. I want to keep growing, challenging myself, reaching a larger international audience, and engaging in conversation with them.

I also want to keep building sets where people feel seen, heard, and valued — environments where respect and passion are central, which sadly isn’t always the norm today. And every day, I dream of collaborating with my favorite production companies and actresses.”