Peter Carpentier studied at the drama school Studio Herman Teirlinck in Antwerp from 1974-1976, and worked as an actor and assistant director at various theaters and television stations. He studied directing, screenwriting and production at the Netherlands Film Academy from 1976-1980, and studied directing at the American Film Institute Center for Advanced Film Studies, Los Angeles from 1980-1981.

Carpentier has taught at the HFF in Munich, DFFB Berlin and the Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg. Since 1996, he has been a board member of the Bundesverbandes der Film- und Fernsehregisseure. Since 2000, Peter Carpentier has been a member of its executive board. He is also Vice-President of the F.E.R.A. (Federation of Film Directors) since 2000.