- When asked why he never chose the documentary style, when his stories seem so much like documentaries, he explained he found documentaries too difficult compared to fiction.
- Has directed 3 actors to Oscar nominations: Jack Lemmon (Best Actor, Missing (1982)), Sissy Spacek (Best Actress, Missing (1982)), and Jessica Lange (Best Actress, Music Box (1989)).
- Father of Julie Gavras and Romain Gavras.
- He was twice President of the Cinémathèque française.
- Has said in an interview that he decided he wanted to be a film maker after seeing the film Greed (1924) (1924).
- Member of 'Official Competition' jury at the 29th Cannes International Film Festival in 1976.
- President of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 58th Berlin International Film Festival in 2008.
- Has supported Lionel Jospin's 2002 presidential campaign.
- Cousin of Penelope Spheeris and Jimmie Spheeris.
- The creator and honorary president of the Fondation Gan pour le Cinéma.
- Biography in: John Wakeman, editor. "World Film Directors, Volume Two, 1945-1985". Pages 243-248. New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1988.
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