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.