Brešan was born in Zagreb to a mother, writer Jelena Godlar-Brešan, who was of part Jewish descent, and famous playwright Ivo Brešan. He studied philosophy and comparative literature at the University of Zagreb, as well as Film and Television Direction at the university's Academy of Dramatic Arts. As a student, he was awarded the Oberhausen debutant prize for his short film Naša burza ("Our Stock Exchange") in 1988.
