Nusrat Durrani is a pioneering American media executive, filmmaker, and pop culture futurist. He is renowned for producing transformative, multi-platform storytelling and branded entertainment for commercial and social impact. Nusrat kept MTV front and center in the global youth marketplace in senior leadership roles from 1996 until 2016 by boldly... Read more
Nusrat Durrani is a pioneering American media executive, filmmaker, and pop culture futurist. He is renowned for producing transformative, multi-platform storytelling and branded entertainment for commercial and social impact. Nusrat kept MTV front and center in the global youth marketplace in senior leadership roles from 1996 until 2016 by boldly and unflinchingly advancing the conversation around music culture, race, color, gender, and sexual identities. His inclusive vision and resolute allyship to underrepresented identities led him to develop platforms and content for unheard voices across the globe.
He most recently founded and served as General Manager & Sr. Vice President at MTV World, Viacom Media Networks’ visionary global content incubator and innovation engine, which created hundreds of hours of cutting-edge music and pop culture stories from over 45 countries. He also created the acclaimed “Rebel Music” documentary series about young change agents fighting the status quo in turbulent countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Egypt, Turkey, Venezuela, Mali, and Israel-Palestine. In 2015, Nusrat was honored by President Obama for his work spotlighting young Native American artists. He also conceived, and executive produced “Madly,” an omnibus film about love featuring works by top-notch directors selected to open the Tribeca Film Festival and won Best Actress in its category.
Nusrat is described as “a sage when it comes to music and pop culture” by MTV founder and former Viacom Chairman Tom Freston. He is well-known for his cutting-edge creative sensibility, ability to forecast changes in culture, and flair for identifying next-generation talent.
Nusrat recently directed and produced a new series of short films about ordinary citizens engaged in extraordinary struggles in the small-town USA and is wrapping “An American Prayer,” a feature documentary about the American dream to be released in 2021. He is also a keynote speaker and strategic advisor to companies worldwide.