Stephan Hilpert was born in Böblingen in 1980. In 2003 he began his his studies in documentary film directing at the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF). In 2009 he focused his studies on advertisement. During his studies he directed several documentaries for television, including the hour long "Weil der Mensch ein Mensch ist" (2007, together with Frauke Finsterwalder), which dealt with bullying at a kids summer camp, and the 30 minute long "Uncle Sam Wants You - Militärrekrutierung in den USA" (2008).

In 2009 he additionally started an Economics degree in Munich, Madrid and London as well as German and Film Studies at the University of Cambridge, where he wrote his thesis on Ulrich Seidl and Christian Petzold. In 2012, alongside his studies, he finished his documentary about the national chess team called "Die Schachspielerinnen", which he had started filming in 2008. Furthermore he also directed an array of diverse, partially prize winning advertisements, including ones for Mitsubishi, die Deutsche Bahn, AOK and Sixt.

In 2015 Stephan Hilpert started shooting his graduation film for the HFF called "Congo Calling". This film explores the voluntary work done by development workers in the extremely poor and dangerous eastern regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The film was celebrated at the Filmfestival Max Ophüls Prize Premiere where it won the Audience Award. At the DOK.fest Munich it was awarded with the FFF Documentary Talent Award; at the Schwerin Art of Film Festival it won Best Cinematography and at Achtung Berlin Festival it got the New Berlin Film Award. Its theatrical release followed in August 2019.