Jakob Hilpert was born in Munich in 1966. After his school graduation and alternative service, he studied English and Philosophy. In 1989, he worked as a press photographer for the Frankfurter Rundschau and as a theater photographer. His first short films "069-7118523" (1989) and "Die Insel" (1990) were made during these years. Since 1992, he has been a student at the German Film & Television Academy (dffb) in Berlin. Here he has produced numerous shorts, of which "Villeneuve" (1998) was the most successful, winning the national competition in Oberhausen and being shown at several international festivals. During his studies he gained practical television experience with Spiegel TV, and worked as an author, director and producer of satirical sketches for ARD. "Circling" ("Kleine Kreise") is his graduation film.

Source: German Films Service & Marketing GmbH