Volker Schlöndorff was born in 1939 in Wiesbaden, Germany as the son of a doctor. At the age of 17, he attends boarding school in Breton where he studies Jesuitism. He finishes school in Paris, receiving his baccalaureate diploma, which he follows up with studies in political science. During this time, Schlöndorff establishes close contacts to the directors of the „nouvelle vague“, especially to Louis Malle.
His great fondness for literary film adaptations cannot be denied, when reviewing the multitude of his existing works like YOUNG TORLESS, MAN ON HORSEBACK, THE LOST HONOR OF KATHARINA BLUM, THE TIN DRUM, CIRCLE OF DECEIT, A LOVE OF SWANN and VOYAGER. Even his political commitment, like in GERMANY IN AUTUMN, is a recurring part of his films, in which he takes a critical stand towards society.
In 1969, Schlöndorff founds Halleluja Film GmbH together with Peter Fleischmann and in 1974, the production company Bioskop Film, in collaboration with Reinhard Hauff and Eberhard Junkersdorf. From 1974 to 1978, the director continues to be active on the German Federal Film Board, where he campaigns for better film politics.
In 1969, Schlöndorff marries the actress-director Margarethe von Trotta, with whom he films THE LOST HONOR OF KATHARINA BLUM in 1975. After 17 years of marriage, they separate and the director marries Angelika Gruber in 1992, with whom he has daughter Elena.
Volker Schlöndorff achieves his probably greatest success in 1980. For the filming of THE TIN DRUM, after the novel by Günter Grass, he receives both the „Oscar“ and „Die Goldene Palme“ (The Golden Palm). This breakthrough finally gives him international recognition.
In the mid-80s, the filmmaker goes to New York, where he works with Dustin Hoffmann on a movie version of the Arthur Miller drama DEATH OF A SALESMAN. The filming of Max Frisch’s VOYAGER, starring Sam Shepard and Julie Delpy, follows in 1990. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, the director returns to Germany. Here, as of 1992, he devotes himself exclusively to the restructuring of the former Ufa and Defa studios in Babelsberg. Following a four year creative pause, he makes THE OGRE, after Michel Tournier’s “The Erlking”, in 1996.
At the Berlinale 2000, another Schlöndorff film receives various awards. A „Silbernen Bären“ (Silver Bear) for THE LEGENDS OF RITA is awarded for the best actresses Bibina Beglau and Nadja Uhl as well as the "Blauen Engel" (Blue Angel) for the best European film.
The 2004 production, THE NINTH DAY, is awarded the „Lola“ for best director, best production design, best editing and best performance by an actor in a leading role.
ULZHAN, Schlöndorff’s most recent work, had its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007.