Chasing Grace by Eva Verbeeck
Documentary, Portrait | 16 min | 2026 | VTM
Chasing Grace is an intimate short documentary following Belgian figure skater Loena Hendrickx in the lead-up to the Olympic Games. Through moments of quiet focus and emotional intensity, the film reveals the delicate balance between strength and vulnerability that defines both her skating and her inner world.
Away from the spectacle of competition, Loena confronts pressure, expectation, doubt, and resilience. On the ice, she searches for control and precision. Off the ice, she navigates the weight of ambition and the emotional cost of pursuing perfection. The film moves between discipline and release, revealing the human story behind an exceptional athlete.
At its core, Chasing Grace is not only about elite sport but about identity, perseverance, and the courage it takes to remain open and fragile in a world that demands constant excellence.
Director & Producer: Eva Verbeeck | evaverbeeck.com
Film Editor: Dennis Gnoni Visconti
Director of Photography: Charlie Speeckaert | charliespeeckaert.com
Sound: Inoti Bruneel | notsound.com
Sound Design and Mix: Casper Hendriks | casperhendriks.com
Additional Cinematography: Ilona Vanouplines | ilonavanouplines.com
Drone Operator: Stanislav Dobak | stanislavdobak.com
Colorist: Florian Keirse | floriankeirse.com
Color Grading Studio: Alpenglow | alpenglow.be
Motion Graphics Designer: Margaux Van den Bossche | allomargaux.be
Archival Footage Processing: MediaFix | mediafix.com
Camera Support: Lucky Cameras | luckycameras.be
Film Editor: Dennis Gnoni Visconti
Director of Photography: Charlie Speeckaert | charliespeeckaert.com
Sound: Inoti Bruneel | notsound.com
Sound Design and Mix: Casper Hendriks | casperhendriks.com
Additional Cinematography: Ilona Vanouplines | ilonavanouplines.com
Drone Operator: Stanislav Dobak | stanislavdobak.com
Colorist: Florian Keirse | floriankeirse.com
Color Grading Studio: Alpenglow | alpenglow.be
Motion Graphics Designer: Margaux Van den Bossche | allomargaux.be
Archival Footage Processing: MediaFix | mediafix.com
Camera Support: Lucky Cameras | luckycameras.be
4K, 4:3, Color
Director's Statement
This film began with admiration. I had followed Loena Hendrickx for years, drawn not only to her powerful skating but to the emotional honesty she carries on and off the ice. When I first approached her, it was during one of the most intense periods of her career, while preparing for Olympic qualification. She opened her world to us with trust and generosity.
What interested me most was the space between performance and person. The moments that exist beyond medals, scores, and expectations. Figure skating is often perceived as effortless and graceful, yet behind that beauty lies relentless discipline, pressure,e and vulnerability. I wanted to create a film that stayed close to Loena as a human being, not just as an athlete.
Chasing Grace is built on observation rather than explanation. It invites the viewer into Loena’s rhythm, her solitude, her resilience, and her emotional landscape. By stripping away spectacle, the film allows space for intimacy and reflection. This is a portrait of a young woman chasing a lifelong dream while learning how to hold both strength and fragility at the same time.
