Akif Aliyev (Akif Gulrzaoghlu) was born in Baku.

He studied at the Chemical Technology Faculty of the Azerbaijan Oil and Chemical Institute (1980), and at advanced training courses on the organization and creation of motion picture production in Moscow (1986).

He began his labor activity in 1968 as a worker. Since 1973, he has worked as a dispatcher, engineer, and head of the production department at the “Azerbaijanfilm” film studio. He has been working in films as executive producer since 1986.