Born in Tübingen in Germany in 1974, he studied sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts and subsequently feature film directing at the University of Television and Film in Munich from 1998 to 2005. In 1998 he founded the film magazine "Revolver" together with Christoph Hochhäusler and Sebastian Kutzli which he continues to co-edit. His award-winning feature film debut, SCHLÄFER, premiered in the Cannes film festival section Un Certain Regard. He took part in the Berlinale's Competition programme in 2010 with DER RÄUBER.