Gerhard Benedikt Friedl studied philosophy at the University of Vienna before transferring to the HFF Munich to study film directing. In 2004, his film Hat Wolff von Amerongen Konkursdelikte begangen? was both his feature film debut and graduation film from the HFF. He received two awards at the Duisburger Dokumentarfilmwoche, and was awarded the prize for Innovative Cinema at the Diagonale in Graz.

Gerhard Friedl worked as a cameraman, editor, curator of film screenings, film and photography critic and director for television, commercials and industrial films. He was a lecturer for contemporary documentary film at the HFF Munich. From October-December 2007, he was a fellow at the Villa Aurora in Pacific Palisades. He lived in Berlin and Marseille.