Steff Gruber, son of painter Hannes Gruber and Annemarie Gruber-Vogelsanger, grew up in Oberrieden on Lake Zurich.
As a young man, Gruber attended film lectures and courses at the University of Zurich, ETH Zürich, and F+F Zurich College of Design, where he studied with renowned instructors such as Serge Stauffer, Hansjörg Mattmüller, and Peter Jenny. During this time, he also worked as a commercial photographer and filmmaker.
In 1976, Gruber transferred to the University of Georgia, where he befriended painter and film director James Herbert, whose influence on his work has been lasting. After returning to Switzerland, Gruber worked as an assistant to American painter Sam Francis, collaborating with him on a film about C.G. Jung.
Gruber co-founded the cultural advertising firm ALIVE Media AG with René Grossenbacher in 1976, and has been its Managing Director ever since. He has also taught at various schools and colleges, including FH Konstanz, where he was a lecturer in Film and Electronic Media from 1994 to 1997.
As a cameraman, Gruber has worked with artists such as Isa Hesse-Rabinovitch and film makers like Erich Langjahr.
In 2008, Gruber became the CEO of KINO.NET AG, a film production company that aims to produce innovative, critically acclaimed films and handle distribution and global rights. The company is currently producing Gruber's film, Passion Despair.
In addition to his work in film, Gruber is also an author, pilot, and Internet pioneer. He continues to indulge his passion for flying, making round trips in the Swiss Alps and taxi and private flights within Europe and North Africa.
Gruber is married to German communication designer Anke Felgenhauer, and they have two sons.
