Michaël R. Roskam was born as Michaël Reynders. Roskam is his mother's family name and "R." refers to his father's family name, Reynders.
He attended the 'St. Lukas Academy of Fine Arts' in Brussels, where he studied painting and contemporary art, and the 'Maurits Binger Film Institute' in Amsterdam where he received in 2005 his master's degree in script writing and development.
He teaches filmmaking at the 'St. Lukas Film School' in Brussels.
Named one of Variety's 10 Directors to Watch in 2011.
