A global roster of female artists lead the nominations in the annual UK Music Video Awards, which takes place at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm, London on Thursday October 25th, hosted by Adam Buxton.
Florence + The Machine and Sevdaliza lead the pack with 5 nominations apiece, while Björk, Chaka Khan, Christine and the Queens and Rosalía win 4 nominations each. Chaka Khan’s Like Sugar and Sevdaliza’s Shahmaran win the most nominations for a single video with 4 nods each. Five female artists appear in the Best Artist category with Bjork, Christine and the Queens, Florence + the Machine, Janelle Monáe and Sigrid facing off against Young Fathers for the award.
Last year’s multi-award winners, alt-J are back in this year’s shortlist with 3 nominations for Pleader, matching the same number of mentions for Jon Hopkins’ latest release Singularity, breakout Spanish artist Rosalia’s Malamente, and the eyeball-popping Collapse by Aphex Twin. The headline-grabbing video for This Is America, which provided a touchstone moment earlier this year for Childish Gambino and director Hiro Murai, wins 3 nominations for Best International Urban Video, Best Cinematography and Best Choreography.
The awards show, which celebrates music video creativity at all levels and from all over the world, is set to showcase music video achievements by artists in a range of genres, from pop to electronica through, rock, hip hop, grime, rap, R&B, jazz and alternative. British artists feature strongly in a range of categories at the UKMVAs, with alt-J, Young Fathers and John Hopkins leading the pack, and double nominations for Dua Lipa, Stormzy, Dizzie Rascal, The Horrors, Years & Years and Neneh Cherry. There are also mentions for relative newcomers Jorja Smith, King Krule and Col3trane with 2 nods each, as well as Becky and the Birds and the Mercury award-winning Wolf Alice.
Among the inclusions by international nominees, The Carters’ win a shout for the attention-grabbing Apeshit, the first music video to be shot in The Louvre. They face off in the Best International Urban category against Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, A$AP Rocky, Kali Uchis with Tyler the Creator, and Kamasi Washington. Previous winners, The Blaze, gain 3 nominations – two for their video Queens and one as Best Director, while Jack White also wins three mentions, including two nominations in the Best International Rock Video category for Over and Over and Over and Corporation. Leon Bridges, Moses Sumney, Sigrid, Father John Misty, DJ Snake, and LCD Soundsystem win two nominations apiece.
A number of celebrated directing talents feature in this year’s shortlists, including American directing heavyweight, Dave Meyers, feature film director Rian Johnson, Spanish creative team CANADA, Childish Gambino’s longtime collaborator Hiro Murai, and music video legend Jean-Baptiste Mondino. The creativity of the music video medium has proved fertile ground this year for commercials directors Kim Gehrig and Seb Edwards, as well as photographers Autumn de Wilde, Nadia Lee Cohen and newcomer Olivia Rose. Among the British directing talent on show, there are double nominations for last year’s Best Director winner Oscar Hudson, and Best Rock Video winners The Sacred Egg, as well as relative newcomers Felix Brady and directing duo Zhang + Knight.
In the craft categories, the breadth of international talent is on show as choreographer Sherrie Silver wins a nomination for her work on Childish Gambino’s This Is America, lining up against Christine and the Queens and La Horde, JaQuel Knight, Akram Khan and Hofesh Shechter. Vanessa Coyle and Mikey Hollywood line up alongside international competition in the Best Styling and Best Production Design categories, while DOP Kaname Onoyama gets a double nomination in the Cinematography category. British editing and colour grading talent makes a strong showing in the technical categories, while British animators Chris Hopewell and Weirdcore are among the nominees in visual effects and animation.
As well as honouring the best work in music videos, there are also awards at the UKMVAs for both longform and shortform live music performance films, with Biffy Clyro, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, Justin Timberlake and Moses Sumney all wining places in the shortlists.
The 11th annual UK Music Video Awards ceremony will be staged at the legendary Roundhouse venue in London next month, and will be hosted once again by BUG frontman, and UKMVA regular host, Adam Buxton.
The UK Music Video Awards editorial director, David Knight, says, “It’s been another big year for music video, not least in reflecting what’s going on in the wider world. From Childish Gambino’s era-defining This Is America to the diversity of expression by female artists, the nominations at the UK Music Video Awards reflects that vibrant creativity. And as the UKMVAs is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, we’re gearing up for a huge celebration of the fantastic work in music videos in the past year at the Roundhouse on October 25th.”
Here is the full list of nominations:
Best Pop Video – UK
Dua Lipa – IDGAF
George Ezra – Shotgun
Nao – Another Lifetime
Sam Smith ft Logic – Pray
Stormzy ft MNEK – Blinded By Your Grace
Years & Years – Sanctify (Part 1)
Best Rock Video – UK
Arctic Monkeys – Four Out Of Five
Florence + The Machine – Big God
Florence + The Machine – Hunger
Royal Blood – How Did We Get So Dark?
Snow Patrol – Life On Earth
The Horrors – Something To Remember Me By
Best Alternative Video – UK
alt-J – Pleader
Gaz Coombes – Walk The Walk
King Krule – Biscuit Town
Leon Vynehall – Movements (Chapter lll)
Novo Amor – Birthplace
Young Fathers – Holy Ghost
Best Dance Video – UK
Aphex Twin – Collapse
Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa – One Kiss
Damian Lazarus & The Ancient Moons – Heart Of Sky
Gorillaz Ft Little Simz – Garage Palace
Jon Hopkins – Emerald Rush
Jon Hopkins – Singularity
Best Urban Video – UK
Bipolar Sunshine – Easy To Do
Col3trane – Fear & Loathing / Britney
Dizzee Rascal – Bop N Keep It Dippin
Jorja Smith – Blue Lights
Stormzy – Gang Signs & Prayer
Tom Misch ft Loyle Carner – Water Baby
Best Pop Video – International
Ariana Grande – God Is A Woman
Christine And The Queens ft Dâm-Funk – Girlfriend
Leon Bridges – Bad Bad News
Rosalía – Malamente
Rosalía – Pienso En Tu Mirá
Sean Paul & Major Lazer – Tip Pon It
Best Rock Video – International
Father John Misty – Mr Tillman
Jack White – Corporation
Jack White – Over And Over
Lenny Kravitz – Low
Phantogram – Funeral Pyre
Rainbow Kitten Surprise – Hide
Best Alternative Video – International
Björk – Utopia
LCD Soundsystem – Oh Baby
Moses Sumney – Quarrel
Rone ft Noga Erez – Wave
Sevdaliza – Hear My Pain Heal
Sevdaliza – Shahmaran
Best Dance Video – International
Carnage & Steve Aoki ft Lockdown – Plur Genocide
Chaka Khan – Like Sugar
DJ Snake – Magenta Riddim
The Blaze – Queens
Tshegue – Muanapoto
tUnE-YArDs – Heart Attack
Best Urban Video – International
A$AP Rocky ft Moby – Forever
Childish Gambino – This Is America
Kali Uchis ft Tyler The Creator, Bootsy Collins – After The Storm
Kamasi Washington – Street Fighter Mas
Kendrick Lamar ft SZA – All The Stars
The Carters – Apeshit
Best Pop Video – Newcomer
11 – Find A Way
Becky And The Birds – Becky And The Birds
Kenzie – Dark July
Leyya – Wannabe
Poppy Ajudha – She Is The Sum
Zagmachi – God’s Lament
Best Rock Video – Newcomer
Bloody Knees – Maybe It’s Easy
Gengahr – Before Sunrise
Idles – Colossus
Lightwave Empire – Too Close To The Sun
Pumarosa – Lion’s Den
Wolf Alice – Space And Time
Best Alternative Video – Newcomer
Agar Agar – Fangs Out
Badbadnotgood ft Samuel T Herring – I Don’t Know
Hak Baker – Like It Or Lump It
Liars – Cred Woes
Solomon Grey – Wonderful World
The Horrors – Ghost
Best Dance Video – Newcomer
Confidence Man – Don’t You Know I’m In A Band
Daniel Avery – Glass
Gila – Shadow Boxing
Kelly Lee Owens – Throwing Lines
MJ Cole X Kojey Radical – Soak It Up
Turtle – Bloodtype
Best Urban Video – Newcomer
ATO – Monster
Col3trane ft Ebenezer – Language
Flohio – 10 More Rounds
Gaika – Crown And Key
Kobo – Baltimore
Slowthai – Ladies
Best Interactive Video
Daniel OG – Roll The Dice
Foster The People – Sit Next To Me
Human Pyramid – Crackle Pop
LCD Soundsystem – Dance Tonite
PUP – Old Wounds
Too Many T’s – Featuring Alexa
Best Live Video in association with Procam
Biffy Clyro – Many Of Horror (MTV Unplugged)
Daughter – All I Wanted (Live at Asylum Chapel)
Jorja Smith – February 3rd (Vevo Lift)
Justin Timberlake ft Chris Stapleton – Say Something
Moses Sumney – Rank & File
Soulwax – Is It Always Binary
Best Live Concert
Arcade Fire Live at L’Accorhotels Arena
Arctic Monkeys Live at The BBC
Biffy Clyro – MTV Unplugged (Live at Roundhouse, London)
House Of Vans Presents: Royal Blood Live Streamed From London
MGMT Live at Days Off
Steven Wilson: Home Invasion (In Concert at The Royal Albert Hall)
Best Production Design in a Video
Björk – Arisen My Senses
Jack White – Over and Over and Over
Kali Uchis ft Tyler The Creator, Bootsy Collins – After The Storm
King Krule – Biscuit Town
Rosalía – Malamente
Sevdaliza – Shahmaran
Best Styling in a Video in association with i-D
Chaka Khan – Like Sugar
Dizzee Rascal – Bop N Keep It Dippin
Florence + The Machine – Big God
Neneh Cherry – Kong
Rosalía – Malamente
Years & Years – If You’re Over Me
Best Choreography in a Video
Childish Gambino – This Is America
Christine And The Queens – Doesn’t Matter
Christine And The Queens ft Dâm-Funk – Girlfriend
Florence + The Machine – Big God
Jon Hopkins – Singularity
N.E.R.D & Rihanna – Lemon
Best Cinematography in a Video in association with Panalux
Ateph Elidja – Burn October
Aufgang – Backstabbers
Carnage & Steve Aoki ft Lockdown – Plur Genocide
Childish Gambino – This Is America
Indochine – Station 13
Sevdaliza – Shahmaran
Best Colour Grading in a Video in association with CHEAT
A$AP Rocky ft Moby – Forever
alt-J – Pleader
Chaka Khan – Like Sugar
Leon Bridges – Bet Ain’t Worth The Hand
Neneh Cherry – Kong
Tagua Tagua – Rastro De Po
Best Editing in a Video in association with Cut+Run
alt-J – Pleader
Aufgang – Backstabbers
Chaka Khan – Like Sugar
Jon Hopkins – Singularity
The Blaze – Queens
Young Fathers – Toy
Best Visual Effects in a Video
Aphex Twin – Collapse
Björk – The Gate
DJ Snake – Magenta Riddim
Justice – Pleasure
Sean Paul & Major Lazer – Tip Pon It
Sevdaliza – Shahmaran
Best Animation in a Video
Aphex Twin – Collapse
Father John Misty – Please Don’t Die
Paula Cavalciuk – Uterine Death And Life
Sigrid – Focus
Toto Bono Lokua – Ma Mama
U2 – Love Is Bigger Than Anything In Its Way (Beck Remix)
Best Commissioner in association with The Mill
Andrew Law
Connie Meade
Elizabeth Doonan
James Hackett
John Moule
Semera Khan
Best Producer in association with Worldwide Production Agency
Amber Millington
Dasha Deriagina
Jason Baum
Natalie Arnett
Natan Schottenfels
Théo Gall
Best Production Company
Academy Films
DIVISION
Freenjoy
Iconoclast
Pulse Films
Somesuch
Best New Director in association with Time Based Arts
Adriaan Louw
Anton Tammi
Duncan Loudon
Klvdr
Paco Raterta
Zhang + Knight
Best Director
AG Rojas
Autumn De Wilde
CANADA
Dexter Navy
Nadia Lee Cohen
The Blaze
Best Artist
Björk
Christine And The Queens
Florence + The Machine
Janelle Monáe
Sigrid
Young Fathers