Volker Schlöndorff was born in Wiesbaden in 1939 and spent his childhood there and in nearby Schlangenbad. He spent a large part of his youth in Paris. After studying political science, he made his way into film as an assistant director to Louis Malle, Jean-Pierre Melville and Alain Resnais. In 1964, Schlöndorff made his first film, "Der junge Törless", which won several awards and was his first international success. His breakthrough at the German box office came with "The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum" (1975). Probably his greatest success to date was the film adaptation of the Grass play "The Tin Drum" (1979). The film was awarded the "Palme d'Or" in Cannes and the Oscar for best foreign film and opened the doors to international film production for Volker Schlöndorff.

In addition to his work as a film director, he also enjoys staging operas and stage works.