Sarthak Hegde Born in 2000, Mangalore, India Sarthak Hegde is a filmmaker and writer known for his hyper-stylized, audaciously provocative storytelling in Indian cinema. Sarthak explores complex human emotions and socio-political issues through surreal narratives and striking visuals. He gained international recognition with his critically acclaimed film SURA (2023), which explored themes of identity and dogmatism, premiered at Oscar-qualifying festivals like St. Louis and Rhode Island, and was nominated at the Critics’ Choice Awards. His latest film, Green Girl, delves into themes of inter-faith love, identity, and communal tensions, blending raw realism with dreamlike surrealism to create a hauntingly poetic narrative. Hegde’s bold narratives challenge societal constructs, crafting visually intricate and thematically daring works. He studied Fine Arts in Filmmaking at the New York Film Academy, Los Angeles.