About the Writer / Director

Sandeep Kumar is an Austrian writer and director of Indian origin, based in Vienna. His work spans feature films and documentaries and is distinguished by a strong commitment to socially relevant themes and intimate human storytelling.

In 2010, Kumar created the genre “Austro-Bollywood,” a unique cultural crossover between Bollywood narrative traditions and Austrian realities. His debut feature Kesariya Balam (Love Without Borders) (2010) received a national award for independent productions, followed by Servus Ishq (2014), produced by Oscar-winning producer Josef Aichholzer and released nationwide in Austrian cinemas.

Kumar’s films have premiered at major international festivals and have received numerous awards, including honors for Best Director and Best Screenplay. He has broken new ground in cinema by having an Indian actor learn German in just three months to play the lead role in his Austrian feature HAPPY. He is also known for his innovative filmmaking approach, having shot a feature-length American film in New York City in just ten days.

His artistic background includes theatre in India, film studies and short film work in Germany and the United States, as well as advanced training in acting and directing. He was a guest listener in Michael Haneke’s class at the Film Academy Vienna and is a member of the Austrian Film Academy and the Association of Austrian Directors.

As a filmmaker, Sandeep Kumar explores themes of life, relationships, migration, identity, dignity, love, and equality. His films seek to confront social realities with empathy and precision, using cinema as a space to question, reflect, and connect human experiences across cultures. Contact us