Maria Lang was born in 1945 in Zusmarshausen. After training in a photo lab, she studied at the German Academy of Film & Television (dffb) in Berlin. Together with Ute Aurand, she began the research project 25 Jahre Studentinnen an der dffb and founded the Filmclub at the dffb, specializing in women's films. She also presents the monthly series Filmarbeiterinnen-Abend at the Arsenal Kino in Berlin.