Vinko Brešan wurde 1964 in Zagreb geboren und ist der Sohn von Ivo Brešan. Brešan studierte in Zagreb Philosophie und vergleichende Literaturwissenschaft 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.
