Dheeraj Akolkar

Indian-born Dheeraj Akolka graduated in architecture at Pune University but never practiced his job. Instead he started collaborating on Hindi movies such as Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India (2001) (the 2002 Indian Academy Award nominee for best foreign film), the immensely popular Devdas (2002) or the excellent Black (2005). In 2007 he became master of arts in screen directing and writing at London University. Between 2005 and 2010 he produced and directed five shorts either in England, in India or in Scandinavia. His first feature film, Liv & Ingmar (2012), is a magnificent tribute to both Liv Ullmann,the Norwegian actress and the great Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman. Told with emotion, candor and wit by Liv Ullmann in person and filmed on Bergman's Faro Island personal estate, Liv & Ingmar (2012) is at once a precious document and a universal love story.