2020 Heartland International Film Festival Awards
Photo Highlights
Artistic Director, Jury Member, Event Panelist
GREG SORVIG
Artistic Director at Heartland Film / Senior Associate Programmer at Tribeca Festival
- E-mail gsorvig@heartlandfilm.org
- Phone (317) 464-9405
- Based Indianapolis, IN
- Festival Juries, Event Panels & Interviews
Greg leads the artistic vision and film programming department for Heartland Film and its Academy Award®-qualifying Indy Shorts International Film Festival and Heartland International Film Festival (HIFF) events in Indianapolis where he serves as the organization’s liaison with major studios, industry, and filmmakers. Since 2011, 10 short films programmed at Heartland Film’s festivals have won Academy Awards® with a total of 36 nominations. HIFF and Indy Shorts are regularly recognized in MovieMaker Magazine lists, including “Coolest Film Festivals in the World,” “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” and “Top Short Film Festivals in the World.”
In addition to his lead role at Heartland, Greg is also Senior Associate Programmer on the Tribeca Festival shorts team and recently served as a 2021 International Documentary Association IDA+XRM Media Incubator Grant Reviewer and 2022 National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan Media Arts Reader. Greg is the 2024 recipient of the Spirit of Windrider Award at the Windrider Summit at Sundance.
Greg earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication & Culture with Honors from Indiana University and has previously worked for Fortune 100s, including The Walt Disney Company. Greg is an alumni board member of The Media School at Indiana University, serves as a panelist at major industry conferences and juror at other film festivals, and is a contributor for the FilmFreeway blog.
Available for These Engagements
Speaking
Panels, Educational, Organizational
Want to learn more about the film festival, entertainment, and nonprofits worlds? Glad to provide customized courses and topics to fit your event's needs.
Juries
Film Festival Jury Member
Looking for a seasoned perspective from an Academy Award®-qualifying film festival programmer? Look no further! I offer a collaborative approach and clear communication.
Event Hosting
Emcee, Moderator
Having shared the stage with the likes of Rob Reiner, Jessica Biel, and hundreds of other filmmaking professionals, I can offer smooth and approachable event hosting services.
For booking inquiries please email gsorvig@heartlandfilm.org.
Praise
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"Infectiously enthusiastic artistic director Greg Sorvig is very in-demand as a film festival juror and programmer (he’s also a programmer at the Tribeca Festival) and Heartland Film president Michael Ault makes his very complex job look effortless, consistently keeping guests inspired and delighted. All that, and Heartland Film also produces…"
MovieMaker Magazine 25 Coolest Film Festivals -
“It came as a big, pleasant surprise that MTV Documentary Films acquired ‘76 Days’ during the Heartland International Film Festival. Even in our challenging time of COVID-19, film festivals are continuing to play a crucial role in supporting independent films and filmmakers,” said Hao Wu. “I’m extremely grateful to Artistic Director Greg Sorvig and the Heartland International Film Festival team for having made this acquisition possible.”
Hao Wu Director, 76 DAYS -
Programming by Greg Sorvig and of the international films by Hannah Fischer and the others on staff who see films is exceptional.
Sydney Levine Founder, SydneysBuzz -
Big thank you to ... festival programming director Greg Sorvig for being such a champion of doc films.
Alexandria Bombach Director, ON HER SHOULDERS -
Greg and the team know how to not only run a slick and professional festival, but also be openly available to chat to and relax with as well. We cannot recommend this festival enough - it's got the charm, the know-how and the open arms of everything a filmmaker needs from a festival.
FESTIVAL FORMULA LTD.
Film Festival Jury & Screener Experience
Documentary juror for the 2024 Pittsburgh Shorts Film Festival.
Spotlight shorts jury member for the 2024 SCAD Savannah Film Festival.
Grand jury member for the Cordillera International Film Festival in Reno, Nevada.
Narrative shorts jury member for the 2024 Port Townsend Film Festival, whose mission is to spark community by connecting filmmakers and audiences.
Special jury to help four-wall/Oscar qualify a film for the LA-based Salute Your Shorts Film Festival
Premiere is the annual student film festival hosted by DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts. Now in its 18th year, the festival showcases the best of student work in cinema and animation.
Experimental jury member for the National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY). NFFTY has grown into the world’s largest film festival for emerging directors. Each year the festival showcases films by directors 24 and under.
Jury member for the Oscar-qualifying Cleveland International Film Festival, selecting grand prize winners in the categories of live action, documentary, and animation.
Each year, Windrider honors an individual who embodies the heart and soul of Windrider. We are always excited to feature our accomplished and eclectic Spirit of Windrider Award Recipients. We take the time each year to go through a nomination, presentation and selection process, as we gather together to choose our recipient.
This annual event recognizes and celebrates the films and filmmakers that highlight the resilience and strength of children in the face of adversity.
Special jury to help four-wall/Oscar qualify a film for the LA-based Salute Your Shorts Film Festival
Narrative feature jury member for the 2023 Port Townsend Film Festival, whose mission is to spark community by connecting filmmakers and audiences.
Grand jury member for the Cordillera International Film Festival in Reno, Nevada.
Presented Stage 32's exclusive webinar "How to Get Your Projects Into Film Festivals," available on demand.
Jury member and filmmaker mentor/panelist for the 2022 Louisiana Film Prize.
Grand jury member for the BAFTA-qualifying/BIFA-recognized 2022 Norwich Film Festival.
Narrative feature jury member for the 2022 Port Townsend Film Festival, whose mission is to spark community by connecting filmmakers and audiences.
Grand jury member for the Cordillera International Film Festival in Reno, Nevada.
Member of the Academy Award-qualifying Tribeca Film Festival shorts team serving as senior associate programmer.
Grand jury member for the BAFTA-qualifying/BIFA-recognized 2021 Norwich Film Festival.
Jury member for the 11th International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival in New York.
Narrative feature jury member for the 2021 Port Townsend Film Festival, whose mission is to spark community by connecting filmmakers and audiences.
Extended deadline documentary feature screener for the Academy Award-qualifying 2021 AFI Docs.
Narrative feature jury member for the 2020 Port Townsend Film Festival, whose mission is to spark community by connecting filmmakers and audiences.
Member of the Academy Award-qualifying Tribeca Film Festival shorts team serving as associate programmer.
Student short film category juror for the LA-based Salute Your Shorts Film Festival.
First Look is the yearly USC School of Cinematic Arts showcase for advanced projects run by the Industry Relations Office.
Jury member for the #CIFF44 portrait documentary competition.
The best in Indiana University student film of 2019-20 was recognized at the Cinema Academy‘s Montage: A Celebration of Moving Pictures.
Narrative feature jury member for the 2019 Port Townsend Film Festival, whose mission is to spark community by connecting filmmakers and audiences.
The Tribeca Film Festival brings together visionaries across industries and diverse audiences to celebrate the power of storytelling.
The best in Indiana University student film of 2018-19 was recognized at the Cinema Academy‘s Montage: A Celebration of Moving Pictures.
Indiana Film Race is an production experience made into a competition. Filmmakers creating a story that will they will film in 5 select counties in Indiana. There will be 3 teams, filming in 5 days in those select counties. A race to produce the best short film with a grand prize of $10,000.
Through a series of regularly scheduled educational programs, screening opportunities, sharing resources via online tools, partnering with film, arts and business organizations, and our annual DC Shorts Film Festival, DC Shorts provides opportunities for filmmakers of every skill level to explore and learn their craft — while entertaining and expanding the horizons of audience members.
Toronto Youth Shorts is Ontario's largest youth-focused film festival run by a volunteer group and held in Toronto every year. The festival offers young filmmakers from the Province of Ontario a chance to showcase their work to a captive audience, learn from one another, and engage experienced working professionals.
Premiere is the annual student film festival hosted by DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts. Now in its 12th year, the festival showcases the best of student work in cinema and animation with awards presented in 20 categories covering all facets of filmmaking from screenwriting to post production.
Industry, Panel & Speaking Engagements
Led onstage conversation with Actor Cary Elwes in the historic Murat Theatre with 2,500 patrons in attendance.
Grant Reader for the National Endowment for the Arts' American Rescue Plan Media Arts program.
IDA+XRM Media Incubator supports short vérité documentary films from around the globe, with an emphasis on emerging filmmakers and new perspectives.
Media Career Day connects students with Media School alumni to learn from their career experiences. The event includes panel discussions, informational interviews and networking opportunities.
Virtual festival strategy panel for the School of Visual Arts graduate directing program (MPS).
Discussed the state of pandemic festivals, organized by the
Oscar-qualifying HollyShorts Film Festival.
2021
DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts
Guest Speaker
Discussed the film festival landscape and submissions with students.
2020
Butler University
Guest Speaker
Discussed the film festival landscape and career path with students.
Discussion on how the non-market festivals truly drive the industry as a whole and offer community collaboration.
2019
University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts
Meet the Programmers - Heartland Film Event
Discuss Heartland Film, the film programming process, and the film festival landscape with students and staff at USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Join this casual conversation between IU alumni, a film producer and film festival artistic director, as they share their paths from IU to the film industry and what they wish they knew as students.
March Virtual Roundtable conversation takes an inside look at Heartland Film’s decision to publicly take the Gender Parity Pledge, featuring Greg Sorvig.
Greg served as an Art Works II 2019 Grants Panelist. The NEA announced $80.4 million for 1,114 new awards on May 15, 2019.
2018
Indiana University Media School Career Day
"Film Festival Programming" Panel & Film Festival Master Class
Media Career Day connects students with Media School alumni to learn from their career experiences. The event includes panel discussions, informational interviews and networking opportunities.
The Sedona International Film Festival (SIFF) is an annual, nine-day film festival in Sedona, Arizona. The festival was founded in 1994.
2017
Indiana University Media School Career Day
"Film Festivals" & "Public Relations/Marketing" Panels
Media Career Day featured more than 35 alumni presenting their career advice in a series of 14 panel discussions, networking sessions and one-on-one chats with students.
Branding…it’s not just for cattle. Companies like Apple and Nike spend billions creating iconic brands to build customer loyalty and boost profits. Art houses and film festivals can benefit from investing in branding too – but how do you create a platinum brand on a peanuts & popcorn budget? Joined by panelists Tim League, CEO/founder of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, and Beth Anderson of the Avalon Theatre.
The Art House Convergence conference is an educational program organized by the Art House Convergence. At this important annual conference, delegates enjoy inspirational speakers, informative sessions and panel discussions that provide productive tips about programming, marketing, fundraising, technology and industry trends to help improve the quality and effectiveness of community-based, mission-driven art house cinemas.
2013
International Film Festival Summit
"Navigating the Virtual World - Expanding Your Festival Online" Panelist
The International Film Festival Summit (IFFS) is the largest international organization representing the film festival industry. Through collaborative efforts the IFFS provides programs that drive innovation, education, and provide a critical understanding of how film festivals play a crucial role in independent film and foster growth in the arts and cinema.
Photo Highlights
In the News
Infectiously enthusiastic artistic director Greg Sorvig is very in-demand as a film festival juror and programmer (he’s also a programmer at the Tribeca Festival)...
September 29, 2021
Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast unveiled as Truly Moving Picture recipient at Heartland Film Festival
Belfast Telegraph
"Revealing the news of the Truly Moving Picture Award on its social media, Heartland’s artistic director Greg Sorvig said: 'Kenneth Branagh’s Belfast is a cinematic celebration: a passionate ode to nostalgia, family, place and love.'"
September 17, 2021
HEARTLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FULL LINEUP FOR 30TH ANNIVERSARY
Heartland Film
Heartland Film has announced a star-studded lineup of Event titles and 128 feature films – 11 World Premieres and 8 U.S, Premieres – for the 30th Anniversary of the Heartland Film International Film Festival (HIFF), running October 7-17.
“I’m extremely grateful to Artistic Director Greg Sorvig and the Heartland International Film Festival team for having made this acquisition possible.”
October 13, 2020
MTV Documentary Films Acquires Toronto Docu ’76 Days’ On COVID Outbreak In Wuhan, China
Deadline
Pic was acquired out of the Heartland International Film Festival, where Sheila Nevins served on the feature documentary jury.
Heartland Film Artistic Director Greg Sorvig discussed the changes in an interview on Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.
Greg Sorvig and Julia Ricci offer curated movie suggestions to watch on Netflix as we exercise social distancing during these uncertain times.
Greg Sorvig disusses the 92nd Academy Awards in this live segment.
Indy's Heartland Film Festival has grown into an A-list destination for movies hoping to garner some big-time awards
Programming by Greg Sorvig and of the international films by Hannah Fischer and the others on staff who see films is exceptional.
October 27, 2019
HEARTLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ROUND UP – Laura Emerick reports
Alliance of Women Film Journalists
Greg Sorvig, Heartland’s director of film programming, reminded audiences of the festival’s bounty of offerings, advising them ahead of one screening that “the burden is upon you to see as many as films possible.” That assessment was in keeping with the festival’s motto: “A bold cinematic space.”
September 27, 2019
Horror comes to Heartland film festival, which is bigger than ever in 2019
Mention - IndyStar
Quantity and quality will make this year's Heartland International Film Festival one to remember. And no previous edition of Heartland arrived with as many movies crackling with Academy Awards buzz.
"Behind the Scenes" cover story feature for the September 2019 issues of Carmel Magazine.
July 31, 2019
SERIOUS OSCAR CONTENDERS UNVEILED AT 2019 INDY SHORTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Mention - RogerEbert.com
In its second year, the Indy Shorts International Festival has received a significant bump.
Greg is one of Films Gone Wilds' "10 Film Festival Programmers to Watch"
January 29, 2019
Heartland Film Signs Gender Parity Pledge and First Top-Level Partnership with Alliance of Women Directors
Heartland Film
“Gender disparity in the film industry continues to be an important yet dismissed epidemic; it is easy to say the problem is bigger than one organization or person’s decision, but that is simply not true,” explained Heartland Film Director of Film Programming, Greg Sorvig.
Congrats filmmakers, the staffers love your film and you have earned a spot in the program! Now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and ensure your film stands out from the hundreds of titles being showcased.
October 26, 2018
FILM FESTIVAL NEWS: HEARTLAND FILM FESTIVAL 2018 ANNOUNCES FILMMAKER AWARDS WITH MORE THAN $80K IN CASH PRIZES
Mention - FestWorks
Director of Film Programming Greg Sorvig said, “This was a wonderful edition of the film festival which saw audiences turn out for films in such numbers that we found ourselves needing to add screens to accommodate them all in more than a couple occasions. With that enthusiasm, it wasn’t a surprise that the response to those films, whether it be our lineup of foreign films vying for Oscars selection, our locally produced productions, provocative and thoughtful documentaries, or heartfelt dramas and comedies, was at an all time high for us. The films and filmmakers that won awards this year are a great representation of that lineup that resonated so strongly with our Hoosier audiences.”
October 23, 2018
Filmmaker wins $25,000 Heartland prize for Nadia Murad doc, donates the cash to her cause
Mention - IndyStar
A nonprofit founded by Nobel Peace Prize winner Nadia Murad will receive $25,000 thanks to a documentary that screened at this year's Heartland Film Festival.
October 9, 2018
Film News Roundup: Gale Anne Hurd to Get Lifetime Achievement Award From Heartland Festival (EXCLUSIVE)
Mention - Variety
Heartland Film Festival’s director of film programming Greg Sorvig, said, “Gale Anne Hurd has cemented her place in film history as a creator and guiding force behind some of the most iconic genre works in film and television history. You could start and end the list with ‘The Terminator,’ ‘Aliens,’ and ‘The Walking Dead,’ but the fact that there is so much more beyond those two unforgettable films and that groundbreaking television series, speaks to her lasting impact on our film culture.”
“There are things going on in our society, the #MeToo movement, gender equity across the board, and we’re very proud to announce that all four gala event selections are directed by women this year,” Sorvig said to applause from the audience. “Fifty percent of competition titles were directed by women.”
July 23, 2018
First Impressions: Making the Most of Your FilmFreeway Film Profile and Emailing Festival Programmers
Author - FilmFreeway
How to make a strong first impression — either good or bad — with a festival programmer.
Professional Memberships
- International Documentary Association Member
- Indiana University Media School Alumni Board, 2017-present
- The Media School at Indiana University BFA in Cinematic Arts Advisory Committee, 2019
- Hamilton County Leadership Academy, Class of 2018
- State of Indiana 2017 Film & Media Production Tax Credits Committee
CONTACT GREG
WEB FORM
- Email gsorvig@heartlandfilm.org
- Phone (317) 464-9405
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Address
Heartland Film
1043 Virginia Ave., Ste. 2
Indianapolis, IN 46203