Marie Epstein was born to a French Jewish father and a Polish Catholic mother in what is now Poland. Following the death of her father, Jules, in January 1907, she relocated to Switzerland with her mother, Hélène, and her brother, Jean. The family eventually settled in Lyon, France, where Jean pursued his studies, and later moved to Paris around 1922. It was during this vibrant period that Marie began her journey in cinema, initially appearing as an extra in Jean's films, L’Auberge Rouge (1923) and Coeur fidèle (1923), both of which she co-wrote.
Struggling to find further acting opportunities, Marie shifted her focus to screenwriting, which opened doors for her as an assistant director and editor. With the support of French filmmaker Jean Benoit-Lévy, she broke into directing at a time when female filmmakers were a rarity in France. Marie collaborated closely with Benoit-Lévy, co-directing, writing, and editing a series of eight sound fiction films throughout the late 1920s and 1930s. She also directed at least one short film independently during this prolific period.
After World War II and the passing of her brother Jean in 1953, Marie took on the role of film preservationist at the Cinémathèque française, a position she maintained until her retirement in 1977, contributing significantly to the preservation of cinematic history.
