Born in Leningrad in 1951. Son of a well-known documentary film director Yefim Uchitel. Graduated in 1975 from VGIK (The All-Russian State University of Cinematography). Worked as a cameraman and documentary film director at the Leningrad Documentary Film Studio. President and CEO of Rock Films, a production company established in 1991. In 1995, directed his first feature, a critically acclaimed Giselle's Mania (1995). Winner of Nika, Russian Film Academy Award for best feature film in 2000, His Wife's Diary was the Russian submission for Oscar 2000. In 2008 he was awarded with Best Directing Prize in Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. Laureate of a number of international and Russian film festivals.