The annual UK Music Video Awards returns for the eighth year, offering music video makers the chance to gain recognition for their work in areas across the filmmaking board. Now open for entries via the dedicated website at www.ukmva.com, the Awards accepts submissions from across the globe in production, direction and post-production as well as a range of technical skills.
This year, there will be two brand new awards – for the Best Music Documentary and the Best Lyric Video, the latter introduced to recognise that the way music and videos are consumed is becoming increasingly important.
The art of music video making is in rude health, and the importance of the music video to the global music industry is greater than ever. Last year’s Icon Award winner, Joseph Kahn, was presented with his trophy on the same day that his video for Taylor Swift’s ‘Blank Space’ debuted, and it has since racked up nearly a billion views on YouTube. Kahn recently followed this up with ‘Bad Blood’ for Swift which has had nearly 250 million views in a month.
Swift is just one among a new generation of ‘video stars’ who choose the medium as a vehicle for expression. In addition to global megastars like Taylor Swift, Beyoncé and Katy Perry, we’re seeing artistic collaborations between artists, directors, choreographers, animators and art directors – and even brands – helping to push boundaries and extend the reach and impact of the music video format. British talent FKA twigs who co-directs all her own videos, picked up the newly introduced Best Video Artist award last year and has continued to explore the art form. Meanwhile, Florence + the Machine has enjoyed a fresh collaboration with director Vince Haycock for her latest album, creating three videos together for the tracks ‘What Kind of Man’, ‘St Jude’ and ‘Ship To Wreck’.
This year’s Awards, which will take place on 5th November, will be held for the first time at London’s Roundhouse. Steeped in history, this classic venue has not only played host to legendary musical performances from the likes of The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie and The Clash, but in recent years has been home to some groundbreaking cultural events as well as a creative hub for young people in the capital.
Now an event with global reach, last year’s UK Music Video Awards saw winners from the USA, Canada, Australia, France and Israel sitting alongside British talent. American directing duo DANIELS picked up Video of the Year and Best Dance Video – International. The big British winner of the night was Daniel Wolfe for his 8 minute epic for Paolo Nutini’s ‘Iron Sky’, which picked up the Best Pop Video title as well as the coveted Best Cinematography prize for Robbie Ryan.
Wolfe has also received critical acclaim in the past12 months for his first feature, ‘Catch Me Daddy’. In fact, many stars of previous MVA shows have gone on to stack up further filmmaking credits across the big and small screen. Previous winners Hammer & Tongs (‘Son of Rambow’, ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy’), Jamie Thraves (‘The Lowdown’, ‘Treacle Jr’), Eran Creevy (‘Shifty’, ‘Welcome To The Punch’), Romain Gavras (‘Our Day Will Come’) are all now celebrated for their cinematic achievements.
The UK Music Video Awards editorial director, David Knight, says, “At a time when the music video is more important than ever to the music business – as income generator as well as promoter of music – the UK Music Video Awards celebrates the artform. It’s all about the creative collaborations of artists, directors, producers, choreographers and a host of other talented people. Each year we get to marvel at music video’s greatest achievements and this year will be greater than ever.”
The UK Music Video Awards 2015 is now open and accepting entries in over 30 separate categories, including genre-led awards, as well as specific technical and craft awards, and awards for individual producers, directors and commissioners. Entries can be made via the MVA website www.ukmva.com and the deadline is August 5.
The main categories are:
Best Pop Video – UK
Best Pop Video – International
Best Pop Video – Budget
Best Rock/Indie Video – UK
Best Rock/Indie Video – International
Best Rock/Indie Video – Budget
Best Dance Video – UK
Best Dance Video – International
Best Dance Video – Budget
Best Alternative Video – UK
Best Alternative Video – International
Best Alternative Video – Budget
Best Urban Video – UK
Best Urban Video – International
Best Urban Video – Budget
Best Lyric Video *New*
Best Interactive Video
Best Live Music CoverageBest Music Documentary *New*
Best Art Direction & Design in a Video
Best Styling in a Video
Best Choreography in a Video
Best Cinematography in a Video
Best Colour Grading in a Video
Best Editing in a Video
Best Visual Effects in a Video
Best Animation in a Video
Best Commissioner
Best Producer
Best New Director
Best Director
Best Artist
The Icon Award