Konstantinos Gavras was born February 12, 1933 in Loutra-Iraias, Greece. He studied at France’s Institut des hautes études cinématographiques and worked as an assistant director before directing his first feature, The Sleeping Car Murders. He was nominated for an „Oscar” for his direction and script for Z and he won the Academy Award for Missing. At Berlinale he won a „Golden Bear” for Music Box. At Cannes he received the top honour, a „Golden Palm” for Missing, the Jury Prize for Z and the Best Director Prize for Special Section.
Costa-Gavras was awarded the Sofia Municipality award for outstanding achievements in world cinema in 2013.