While continuing to pursue his acting career, he entered VGIK, the state film school in Moscow, where he studied directing under film maker Mikhail Romm, teacher to his brother and Andrei Tarkovsky.
Mentres continuaba a súa carreira como actor, entrou en VGIK, escola estatal de filme de Moscova, onde estudou dirección co cineasta Mikhail Romm, profesor do seu irmán e de Andrei Tarkovsky.