Vanessa Jopp first studied economic sciences and from 1993 on at the HFF Munich to become a director. Her first feature "Vergiss Amerika" was awarded with the First Steps Award 2000 as well as the Young Talent Award by the German Film Critic’s Association. She then directed the portmanteau film "Honolulu", the cinema feature "Engel und Joe" (Best Actor’s Award for Robert Stadlober at the Montréal World Film Festival) and the episode "Der schwarze Troll" of the German TV series Tatort Bremen. "Komm näher", Vanessa Jopp’s fourth cinema feature, premiered at the Berlinale Panorama section and was nominated for Best Film and Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the German Film Awards; Heidrun Bartholomäus received the award for Best Actress at the Copenhagen Film Festival. Vanessa Jopp continued to working for both cinema and television: "Meine schöne Bescherung" (Best Actress Award for Martina Gedeck at the Bavarian Film Awards), "Ladylike", "Klimawechsel" – which won the Grimme Prize and the latest feature "Der perfekte Mann".

Her most recent feature "Lies" celebrated its premiere at the Filmfest München in 2014.