He was raised in a number of African countries (Senegal, Rwanda, Botswana, Cameroon) and also possesses a great deal of shooting experience abroad (Germany, Senegal, Ghana, D.R.Congo, Cuba, Switzerland…). Between 2005 and 2007, he worked as a camera assistant and lighting engineer. Then, from 2007 until 2013, he studied at the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne, specialising in Documentary and Camerawork. In 2011, he made a one-semester exchange at the Escuela International de Cine y TV, in Cuba. Before Brother Jakob, Eli Roland Sachs directed several short documentaries including Le Charretier de Yoff (2010, Senegal), Inspections (2012) and Atemwege (Breath) (2013, Germany).