Ivanda was born in
Split, then under Italian occupation. His father Leo was a high-school professor of Croatian and French language and his mother Dunja a clerk. The family had artistic leanings, as Ivanda's grandfather was an actor in the
Croatian National Theatre in Split (HNK), while his uncle-in-law was composer
Ivo Tijardović. Ivanda completed the classical gymnasium in his hometown, occasionally playing minor roles in the HNK, but as he preferred directing, he entered the
Academy of Dramatic Arts of the
University of Zagreb where he graduated. Ivanda married twice: from the first marriage with Stanka, he had son Nikola, who was also a director and Branko's close assistant in multiple TV projects, such as popular series
Obični ljudi,
Ponos Ratkajevih,
Sve će biti dobro and
Dolina sunca. Nikola died from heart attack in 2012, at the age of 36. From his second marriage with producer Lidija he has two children. ==Filmography==