Has studied economy and political sciences as well as at the Institut des Hautes Etudes Cinematographique (IDHEC) in Paris, France. Worked as an assistant director with Louis Malle, Jean-Pierre Melville and Alain Resnais. Founded his own production company Bioskop Film together with Reinhard Hauff and Eberhard Junkersdorf in 1973. Has directed several operas in Frankfurt a/M, Berlin (Germany) and Paris, France. Since 1992 chief executive of the german production company Sudio Babelsberg GmbH (former UFA/DEFA).
29 April 2002: received the highest French honour "Officier de l'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur" (Knight in the national order of the Legion of Honour) from the French ambassador in Berlin. Retrospective at the San Sebastián Film Festival. [2002] Ancient student at L'IDHEC (La FEMIS) Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1970 Head of jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1991 Has been professor for film and literature at the European Graduate School in Saas Fee, Switzerland since 2001. Although being a member of Germany's Social Democratic Party for many years, he supported Angela Merkel's electoral campaign in 2005.