Alexandra Westmeier was born in 1973 in Chelyabinsk, Russia and studied directing at State Academy of the Theatrical Arts in St Petersburg and Moscow. After working as a TV reporter in her hometown, she moved to Germany and directed the documentaries Fremde. Heimat. Studium. (2003), Finde mich (2005), and Mum, I’m fine… (2007). Alone in Four Walls has received numerous nominations and awards including a nomination for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance in 2008.