Originally from New York City, Friedlander moved to Pennsylvania to attend the Drama Conservatory school at Carnegie Mellon University.
[2] She then moved to Los Angeles where she attended the University of California Santa Cruz followed by the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, where she graduated as the valedictorian of her class.
[2] From the mid-1990s to 2009, she has amassed a number of music video credits directing videos for Alanis Morissette, U2, Megadeth, Avril Lavigne, John Mayer, Celine Dion, R.E.M., 3 Doors Down, among other artists.
In 2006, she directed her first feature film Take the Lead starring Antonio Banderas.
Beginning in 2008, Friedlander moved on to television, directing episodes of One Tree Hill, The Vampire Diaries, Privileged, Pretty Little Liars, 90210, Melrose Place, Outlaw and Gossip Girl.