Henrik Burman, the director of the upcoming documentary Avicii – I’m Tim, has shared the emotional challenges of bringing the late DJ’s life story to the screen.
The film, set to release on Netflix on December 31, 2024, explores the delicate balance between Avicii’s genius and vulnerability.
The documentary, which will be released alongside Avicii – My Last Show, revisits the night of Avicii’s final performance at Ushuaïa Ibiza. Less than two years later, Tim Bergling, known as Avicii, tragically passed away by suicide.
Burman explained that the project began in 2019 as a concept for a documentary about Avicii’s final album, Tim. The team faced significant challenges, including finding fresh footage and conducting extensive research.
“Everyone around Tim had gone through an extremely difficult time,” Burman shared. “We were determined to give this the time it needed and move forward slowly and carefully.”
The director’s journey was driven by a desire to understand the man behind the music. Burman wanted to explore not just the universal appeal of Avicii’s music but the personal side of Tim Bergling. “My biggest driving force was trying to find the opposite—a closeness to Tim as a person,” he said.
The documentary reveals both the light and dark sides of Avicii’s life. Burman found warmth and humor in Bergling’s early years, surrounded by friends and family, which contrasted with the complexities of his later life. The film also shows a passion for music that persisted until the end of his life.
Burman worked through thousands of hours of private archives, including childhood moments and candid footage from friends, to capture the essence of Bergling’s journey. He hopes the documentary offers fans a deeper understanding of who Avicii was, both as a person and an artist.
“This film is so specifically about Tim—but at the same time, it’s so universal,” Burman said. “Life is not simple, there are no easy answers, everything is complex and multi-layered.” The documentary aims to offer fans a fresh perspective on both Tim Bergling and his legacy as Avicii.
