Accepted the presidency of La Fémis (France's most prestigious film school), replacing Patrice Chéreau, who stepped down for professional reasons in March, only two months after he took up duties (June 2007).
Started filmmaking while being in the army.
He was born to secular French Jewish parents in Paris, France during the German Nazi occupation of the country in 1942.
Graduated from L'IDHEC film school (1963).
Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2002
Has supported Lionel Jospin's 2002 presidential campaign.
Served as a master teacher of film at the Columbia University, the City
College of New York, and the School of Visual Arts for a program called
On Set With French Cinema (2003).
Was a guest lecturer at VCU Arts Cinema, located in Richmond, VA, in 2008.