He graduated from the Fine Arts Academy in Belgrade, and then enrolled in Belgrade's Academy of Theater Faculty of Dramatic Arts in 1970.

[1] From 1976 to 1979, he published a series of fanzines which according to him were made "out of frustration" in between his experimentation and attempts to break into professional cinema.

[1] His first full-length feature Ko to tamo peva, directed in collaboration with writer Dušan Kovačević and cinematographer Božidar Nikolić, was released in 1980 and became a box-office hit.

[2][3] 1982's Maratonci trče počasni krug, also achieved considerable commercial success.

[4] Over the coming years Šijan directed two more notable films - Kako sam sistematski uništen od idiota and Davitelj protiv davitelja.