Movie director Laurent Cantet was born in Melle (France) in 1961.

He studied at the IDHEC in Paris from 1986 until 1994. During those years, he made several short films, including "Tous à la manif" (1993), winner of several awards, including the Prix Jean Vigo. In 1995, he directed "Jeux de plage", winning short of the Special Jury Prize at Belfort Festival and, in 1997, the medium-length film "Les sanguinaires".

"Ressources humaines" ("Human Resources", 1999), his first feature film, won the New Directors Award at San Sebastian and is one of the films participating in The Backwash: Cutting Edge of French Cinema retrospective at this year's Festival. It also won the Césars for Best First Film and Most Promising Young Actor (Jalil Lespert).

His filmography continued with "L'emploi du temps" ("Time Out", 2001), Golden Lion at Venice, "Vers le sud" ("Heading South", 2005), a competitor at Venice, and Entre les murs (The Class, 2008), Golden Palm at Cannes, all screened in San Sebastian Festival's Zabaltegi-Pearls section.

For television he has made the documentary short "Un été à Beyrouth" (FR3, 1990) and "Les inventeurs" (TV5, 1996).