Anneli Ahven studied German studies at the Estonian University of Humanities and film production at the Film Studies of the University of Hamburg, Germany.
Her professional career in film began in 1995 when she started working for the Estonian production company Exitfilm. Since 2002, she has worked as a producer for both feature and documentary films. In 2006, she founded her own production company, Kopli Kinokompanii.
Anneli Ahven is an active member of the Association of Estonian Film Producers and the European Film Academy. She is also an Associate Professor and the Head of Production Studies at the Baltic Film and Media School.
Her industry recognition includes being selected as a Producer On The Move 2010, an initiative during the Cannes Film Festival, and being an ACE Producer (ACE27) from 2017–2018.