Susanne Brandstaetter was born and grew up in Los Angeles. Moved to Austria in 1975. Worked as a writer/director for the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF) from 1983 to 2002. In 2002 she became an independent filmmaker and producer. As of 2014, began teaching at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. Brandstaetter’s main focus is making cinema documentaries. She lives and works in Vienna, Austria.