EARMILK went along to the 10th annual UK Music Video Awards last week, which took place on Thursday October 26th at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm, London, hosted by the hilarious Adam Buxton. The night saw incredible visuals from alt-j, Bonobo Kendrick Lamar, Young Thug and The Blaze winning multiple awards.
The biggest winner on the night was a video that turned adversity into a triumph. US director Ryan Staake’s video for Young Thug’s "Wyclef Jean" nearly didn’t happen when the artist failed to show up for the shoot, but Staake’s resourceful production and ingenious editing delivered an unforgettable video for the artist which was named Video of the Year as well as winning the Best Editing, and Best International Urban Video trophies.
Kendrick Lamar, one of the most nominated artists at this year’s Awards, was named Artist of the Year. He accepted the award via a personal video message. Meanwhile, in a big night for British music videos, alt-j’s "3WW" won Best Alternative Video and Best Cinematography for director Young Replicant and DOP Dustin Lane, and Bonobo’s "No Reason" was awarded Best Dance Video and Best Production Design for director Oscar Hudson and production designer Luke Moran Morris. Hudson, who won the Best New Director award in 2016 was also honoured with this year’s Best Director trophy.
In the Pop categories, Dua Lipa’s "New Rules" triumphed among the UK videos, while Haim’s "Want You Back" took the International award with US director Jake Shreier collecting the trophy. Other international directors who took awards include Barcelona’s CANADA for Beck’s "Up All Night", and France’s The Blaze, who directed their own video for "Territory". British directing team The Sacred Egg won the UK Rock/Indie Video trophy for their work on Royal Blood’s "Lights Out" and Hector Dockrill took the UK Urban Video award for Ray Blk’s "Patience".
The Best New Director award was won by Matilda Finn for her work with Danny Brown, Bicep and Obongjayar which also won her the Best Newcomer trophy for Dance Video. Best Commissioner was won by Polydor’s Semera Khan for a body of work that includes big-hitting videos for Haim, Lana del Rey and Mick Jagger.
British animators celebrated a successful night with Chris Hopewell taking the award for Best International Rock/Indie Video for his video for Father John Misty’s "Things It Would Have Been Helpful To Know Before The Revolution", and Bristol-based animation team Karni and Saul won the Best Animation category for their moving promo for Katie Melua’s "Perfect World".
British director Jake Nava was presented with this year’s Icon Award. He is celebrated for his iconic work with some of the biggest names in pop on both sides of the pond, including Beyoncé, Lana del Rey, Pink, Kelis, Mark Morrison, Kylie Minogue, Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Arctic Monkeys, Emeli Sande and Adele among others. Tributes on the night came from Beyoncé, Kylie, Emeli Sande and Alicia Keys.
In the live music categories, previous Icon Award winner Jonas Akerlund triumphed with his live concert film for Rammstein: Paris, while in the shortform category French production team La Blogothèque took the gong for their film for Mura Masa and Damon Albarn’s "Blu". The Best Interactive Video category was won for an unprecedented third time by French director Romain Chassaing for his work with Naïve New Beaters for "Words Hurt". The Vevo MUST SEE Award went to Sam Bailey for Marika Hackman’s "My Lover Cindy" beating off competition from Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Young Thug, Dua Lipa and Charli XCX.
The UK Music Video Awards editorial director, David Knight, says, “More than ever, music video is the place where musicians collaborate with filmmakers to create astonishing works of creativity. The winners and nominees at the UKMVAs have demonstrated that with their exceptional work in the past year. Music videos are more creative than ever, more diverse and eclectic than ever, better than ever.”
Here is the full list of winners:
Best Pop Video – UK in association with Rushes
Dua Lipa – New Rules
Director: Henry Scholfield
Producer: Campbell Beaton
Prod Co: Caviar
Commissioners: Alex Burford / Kirdis Postelle for Warner Bros
Best Dance Video – UK
Bonobo – No Reason
Director: Oscar Hudson
Producer: Matt Posner
Prod Co: Pulse Films
Commissioner: John Moule for Ninja Tune
Best Rock/Indie Video – UK
Royal Blood – Lights Out
Directors: The Sacred Egg
Producers: Natalie Arnett / Tom Birmingham
Prod Co: Riff Raff Films
Commissioner: Jennifer Ivory for Warner Music UK
Best Alternative Video – UK
alt-j – 3WW
Director: Young Replicant
Producer: Sarah Park
Prod Co: Pulse Films
Commissioner: Andrew Law for Infectious Music / BMG
Best Urban Video – UK in association with PPL
Ray BLK – Patience
Director: Hector Dockrill
Producer: Stephanie Paeplow
Prod Co: Pulse Films
Commissioner: Hal Hudson
Best Pop Video – International
HAIM – Want You Back
Director: Jake Schreier
Producers: Alex Fisch / Jackie Kelman Bisbee
Prod Co: Park Pictures
Commissioners: Semera Khan / Saul Levitz for Polydor Records / Columbia Records
Best Dance Video – International
The Blaze – Territory
Directors: Jonathan Alric & Guillaume Alric (The Blaze)
Producer: Roman Pichon Herrera
Prod Co: Iconoclast
Commissioner: Manu Barron for Animal63
Best Rock/Indie Video – International
Father John Misty – Things It Would Have Been Helpful To Know Before The Revolution
Director: Chris Hopewell
Producer: Rosie Lea Brind
Prod Co: Jacknife Films
Commissioner: Sub Pop / Bella Union
Best Alternative Video – International
Beck – Up All Night
Directors: CANADA
Producer: Laura Serra
Prod Co: Canada
Commissioner: Kevin Kloecker for Capitol Records
Best Urban Video – International
Young Thug – Wyclef Jean
Director: Ryan Staake
Head of Production: Kevin Staake
Exec Producers: Ryen Bartlett / Nathan Scherrer
Producer: Jeff Kopchia
Prod Co: Pomp&Clout / Freenjoy
Commissioner: Emmanuelle Cuny Diop For Atlantic Records / 300 Entertainment
Best Pop Video – Newcomer in association with giffgaff
Charlotte Cardin – Like It Doesn't Hurt
Director: Kristof Brandl
Producers: Vlad Cojocaru / Jakob Preischl
Prod Co: Colossale / Bwgtbld
Commissioners: Alex Auray / Jason Brando for Cult Nation
Best Dance Video – Newcomer in association with giffgaff
Obongjayar – Endless
Director: Matilda Finn
Producer: Nick Hayes
Prod Co: Friend
Commissioner: Theo Lalic
Best Rock/Indie Video – Newcomer in association with giffgaff
Lemon Twigs – I Want To Prove To You
Director: Nick Roney
Producer: Andreas Attai
Prod Co: Agile Films
Commissioner: Gabe Spierer for 4AD
Best Alternative Video – Newcomer in association with giffgaff
Bonnie Banane – L'Appétit
Director: William Laboury
Producer: Theo Gall
Prod Co: Division
Commissioner Jules De Chateleux for DIVISION
Best Urban Video – Newcomer in association with giffgaff
Oscar Worldpeace – Tate Modern, Wary, Pearls
Director: Taz Tron Delix
Producer: Kiran Mandla
Prod Co: COMPULSORY
Vevo MUST SEE Award
Marika Hackman – My Lover Cindy
Director: Sam Bailey
Producers: Lucy Bradley / Katie Lambert
Prod Co: Agile Films
Commissioner: Connie Meade for AMF Records
Best Interactive Video in association with The Mill
Naïve New Beaters – Words Hurt
Director: Romain Chassaing
Producers: Nicolas Tiry / Edouard Chassaing
Prod Co: Solab
Record Co: Capitol Music France
Best Production Design in a Video
Bonobo – No Reason
Production designer: Luke Moran Morris
Director: Oscar Hudson
Producer: Matt Posner
Prod Co: Pulse Films
Record Co: Ninja Tune
Best Styling in a Video in association with i-D
The Blaze – Territory
Stylist: Juliette Alleaume
Directors: Jonathan Alric / Guillaume Alric (The Blaze)
Producer: Roman Pichon Herrera
Prod Co: Iconoclast
Record Co: Animal63
Best Choreography in a Video
Kanye West – Fade
Choreographers: Guapo, Jae Blaze, Derek ‘Bentley’ Watkins
Director: Eli Linnetz
Producer: Kathleen Heffernan
Prod Co: Iconoclast
Record Co: Good Music
Best Cinematography in a Video in association with Panalux
alt-j – 3WW
DOP: Dustin Lane
Director: Young Replicant
Producer: Sarah Park
Prod Co: Pulse Films
Record Co: Infectious Music / BMG
Best Colour Grading in a Video in association with CHEAT
Mick Jagger – Gotta Get A Grip
Colourist: Mark Gethin at MPC LA
Director: Saam Farahmand
Producer: Amalia Rosen-Rawlings
Prod Co: Black Sheep Studios
Record Co: Polydor Records
Best Editing in a Video in association with Cut+Run
Young Thug – Wyclef Jean
Editors: Ryan Staake & Eric Degliomini
Exec Producers: Ryen Bartlett / Nathan Scherrer
Director: Ryan Staake
Producer: Jeff Kopchia
Prod Co: Pomp&Clout / Freenjoy
Record Co: Atlantic Records / 300 Entertainment
Best Visual Effects in a Video
Leningrad – Kolshik
VFX: CGF
Director: Ilya Naishuller
Producers: Dimitry Mouraviev / Ekaterina Kononenko
Prod Co: Fancy Shot / Versus Pictures / Great Guns
Best Animation in a Video
Katie Melua – Perfect World
Animators: Karni & Saul
Directors: Karni & Saul
Prod Co: Sulky Bunny
Record Co: Dramatico
Best Live Session
Mura Masa ft Damon Albarn – Blu (Live)
Director: Colin Solal Cardo
Producer: Christophe "Chryde" Abric
Prod Co: La Blogothèque
Commissioners: Emily Tedrake / Semera Khan for Polydor Records
Best Live Concert
Rammstein – Paris
Director: Jonas Akerlund
Producer: Svana Gisla
Prod Co: Black Dog Films
Commissioner: Rammstein
Best Commissioner
Semera Khan
Best Producer in association with WPA
Nathan Scherrer
Best Production Company
Pulse Films
Best New Director in association with Time Based Arts
Matilda Finn
Best Director in association with Locomotion
Oscar Hudson
Best Artist
Kendrick Lamar
The Icon Award
Jake Nava
Video of the Year in association with Promo News
Young Thug – Wyclef Jean
Director: Ryan Staake
Head of Production: Kevin Staake
Exec Producers: Ryen Bartlett / Nathan Scherrer
Producer: Jeff Kopchia
Prod Co: Pomp&Clout / Freenjoy
Commissioner: Emmanuelle Cuny Diop For Atlantic Records / 300 Entertainment
