Between 1990 and 1995, Gudrun Widlok studied photography, film and design at the Folkwangschule, Essen and at the Hochschule für angewandte Kunst, Vienna. During that time, she already worked on several films as a set photographer and script supervisor. In the course of work and study travels, she spent time in African countries, including Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. From 1999 to 2002, she conceptualised and organized the producers' gallery "schöne bildchen". In 2001, she received the "Goldrausch" scholarship from the Berlin female artist programme, as well as a work stipend from the culture department of the Berlin senate. In 2002, she won an award at "Evolutionäre Zellen". In 2006, she got a Nipkow fellowship for her film project "Adopted", which deals with the adoption of grown-ups from Europe by African families.