After graduating from college, worked for one year as school teacher, then entered media industry

First media job as TV announcer for WDR-3, Cologne; job included introducing classic and contemporary films (Soviet silent cinema, Brazilian Cinema Novo)

Went to Italy for WDR to interview directors such as Pasolini, Zeffirelli and Rosi; Pasolini struck her "like a thunderbolt" by saying that she would "make films"

Made first film, an interview with terrorist Ulrike Meinhof (of Baader-Meinhof group) for TV; still extant but rarely seen

Short film directing debut, "Angelika Urban, Verkauferin, verlbot/Angelika Urban, Salesgirl, Engaged" (30 mins; black-and-white documentary)

Feature writing and directing debut, "Gewalt/Violence"

Retrospective of film work at National Film Theatre, London