Suroosh Alvi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Suroosh Alvi
سروش علوی
Alvi in 2016
Born	(1969-03-26) 26 March 1969 (age 56) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Alma mater	McGill University
Occupation	Journalist filmmaker
Known for	Co-founder of VICE Media
Children	1
Parent(s)	Sajida S. Alvi (mother)

Suroosh Alvi (Urdu: سروش علوی; born (1969-03-26)26 March 1969) is a Canadian journalist and filmmaker. He is famous for helping to start Vice Media, a large company that shares news and stories around the world. VICE Media works in more than 50 countries.

Alvi travels a lot as a journalist and filmmaker. He covers topics like youth culture, news, and music from all over the globe. He has hosted and produced many documentaries. These films look into important and sometimes difficult topics. For example, he has reported on resources from conflict zones in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He has also covered the Iraq War, the takeover of Gaza by Hamas, and the rise of groups like the Pakistani Taliban.

Early Life and Education

Suroosh Alvi was born in Toronto, Canada. His parents were from Pakistan and both worked as university professors. His mother, Sajida S. Alvi, taught about Islamic history. She is now a retired professor at McGill University. His father, Sabir A. Alvi, was a psychology professor at the University of Toronto. Suroosh studied philosophy at McGill University.

Career Highlights

Alvi started VICE magazine with Shane Smith and Gavin McInnes in Montreal in 1996. They bought an older magazine called Voices of Montreal. At first, VICE magazine focused on Montreal's alternative culture scene.

Over time, VICE grew into a huge media company. It now includes many websites like VICE.com and Motherboard.tv. It also has a TV network, a record label, and a book publishing part. Today, VICE makes many original video series. These cover news, travel, music, arts, fashion, and food. They have reporters and offices all over the world.

As a journalist, Alvi has reported for shows like VICE on HBO and VICE News. These shows have won important awards like the Emmy and Peabody awards.

In 2014, Alvi was a special guest curator for the PHI Centre in Montreal. He helped plan a month of interesting programs there.

VICE Reporting Around the World

In 2006, VICE started making video reports. Alvi reported on a segment called Gun Markets of Pakistan. For this, he traveled to Pakistan's tribal areas. He showed how many illegal weapons were being made there after the Soviet–Afghan War.

Since then, he has reported from many places around the world. He has covered conflicts and unrest in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Gaza Strip. He has also produced and hosted documentaries for VICE on HBO, VICE News, and The Vice Guide to Travel series.

In 2017, VICE launched a series hosted by Alvi. This series looked at the origins and impact of some of the world's most dangerous groups. These included al-Qaeda in Yemen and Boko Haram in Nigeria.

In 2020, the VICE Guide to Iran was released. Alvi hosted this documentary. In the film, he talked to everyday Iranians about life under their government. He also covered how international rules affected the country. He even interviewed important Iranian political figures.

VICE Music and Film Projects

In 2002, Alvi created VICE Music. This is the company's record label. It has worked with over 50 artists and sold millions of albums. Some famous artists they worked with include Snoop Dogg and Justice. In 2011, VICE Music partnered with Warner Bros. Records.

In 2007, Alvi helped direct and produce Heavy Metal in Baghdad for VICE Films. In this film, he traveled to Iraq. He followed a heavy metal band called Acrassicauda during the Iraq War. The film was shown at major film festivals and won an award at the Warsaw Film Festival.

In 2012, Alvi traveled to Jamaica with director Andy Capper. There, he produced a film called REINCARNATED, featuring Snoop Dogg. This film was also shown at big film festivals.

Personal Life

Suroosh Alvi lives in New York City. He is married and has one son.

Filmography

Alvi has worked as a producer, executive producer, writer, or director on many documentary films and television series.

Television Series

Documentary Films

Feature-length Films

• Heavy Metal in Baghdad (2006)
• Heavy Metal in Istanbul (2008)
• North Korean Film Madness (2010)
• The Vice Guide to Congo (2011)
• Toxic Amazon (2011)
• Reincarnated (2012)
• Lil Bub and Friendz (2013)
• Svddxnly (2014)
• Shelter (2016)
• VICE Guide to Iran (2020)
• Showgirls of Pakistan (2021)

Short Films