As the new year gets under way, time for some unfinished business with the old one. And we start with a look back at the interviews and the Q&As we ran last year. It's a countdown of the features with the most views on Promonews in 2025. It was a very busy year on the platform (and our Instagram feed) for interviews with members of the music video community, leading to longer-read features on the making of various important videos through the year. We talked to variety of professionals about their work via the SNAPSHOT Q&A in the first half of the year, then focussed more on in-depth behind the scenes interviews with directors about specific videos and other projects - including a few that had a huge impact on popular culture in 2025. And we celebrated the life of a legend of the music video business who passed away last year.So to begin our review of the year, here are the 15 top features from 2025 - our most popular and most-read long-read articles, according to website views, including links to the full articles.And there's more to come: the most popular videos featured on Promonews, in terms of views; also our pick of the New Directors and the Hot Directors from the year. And quite possibly more besides... 15. BTS: Olivia de Camps on Danna's Khe Calor | 'The second I heard the song, it felt like pure melodrama.'[imgtoken data:1]The SMUGGLER director talks about celebrating and subverting the telenovela in her breathless epic for the Mexican pop star and actress Danna. Sponsor banner: SMUGGLER 14. From casting to visual storytelling - Louise Collins on her directing debut for Sylvie Wiley’s 'Stranger In My Sheets'[imgtoken data:2]Louise Collins, who has been involved in numerous music videos as a casting director, has now made the leap into directing a music video for British-American singer songwriter Sylvie Wiley, capturing the extraordinary skills of aerial dancer Izzy Bloomer. Promonews talked to Louise to find out how it happened. 13. Three videos, four days : Alex Gargot on the challenge of his SAINt JHN trilogy[imgtoken data:3]From the POV of a bullethole, to a jealous robot, to it's reanimated remains... the CANADA director explains how he made three distinctly different videos for the Guyanese-American singer's new album Festival Season, that have a common thread.Sponsor banner: CANADA 12. Will Wightman on This Place Is A Sh*thole: 'This was part-experiment, part-therapy'[imgtoken data:4]It's not a music video, but we still love Will Wightman's new short film - four minutes of high-octane comedy horror thrills, introducing one of the most ingenious monster creations of modern times. We discover the Blinkink director wanted to explore the potential of an unusual camera -and exorcise a few demons.Sponsor banner: Blinkink 11. THE SNAPSHOT Q&A: Henry Howard[imgtoken data:5]https://www.promonews.tv/interviews/snapshot-qa-henry-howard/90422The ELMNTL colourist makes a plea for better communication with creatives, reveals Swift-related fun times - and his teeny obsession with Wicked...Sponsor banner: ELMNTL 10. BTS: Bonnie MacRae on Chloe Slater's Harriet | 'Normal People still feels so relevant.'[imgtoken data:6]The Spindle director’s debut music video pays tribute to a modern TV classic. She explains how it happened, and why it needed to be as faithful to the original as possible.Sponsor banner: Mouthpiece 9. Joe Connor on capturing Ireland’s giant waves for Gregory Alan Isakov's Mistakes: 'You had to feel the surfer is on a knife edge.'[imgtoken data:7]He has made an awesome black and white surfing film for singer-songwriter Isakov - a passion project, shot in Ireland, that stands comparison with a certain famous ad. It was time to ask the Rogue Films director some questions.Sponsor banner: ROGUE 8. BTS: Jake Erland on Olivia Dean’s Nice To Each Other[imgtoken data:8]Director/DoP Jake Erland’s recent video for Olivia Dean elevates the singer's charming on-screen presence by referencing Hollywood musicals and classic fashion shoots. We asked Jake some questions about the project.Sponsor banner: Park Pictures 7. THE SNAPSHOT Q&A: Tohé Commaret[imgtoken data:9]The award-winning French director on success at the Berlinale, shooting her KUKII promo in Cairo and approaching music videos as experiments in filmmaking.Sponsor banner: FRIEND 6. Zac Dov Wiesel on Megan Thee Stallion's Whenever video: "It was super-fast and furious."[imgtoken data:10]We spoke to the Pulse-signed director about his breakthrough into the big time, making a video for one of American hip-hop's most visually astute superstars.Sponsor banner: Pulse Films 5. THE SNAPSHOT Q&A: Rianne White[imgtoken data:11]The Mouthpiece-repped director on working with her idols, moving from Edinburgh to London (with geese) - and the need for greater mental health support to cope with the demands of the industry.Sponsor banner: Mouthpiece 4. 'No-one knew what would happen before this tour started.' | Daniel Broadley on creating video postcards for Oasis Live '25[imgtoken data:12]The KODE director has spent the past few months with Oasis on their spectacularly successful comeback tour - mostly pointing his camera at the fans. It's not only led to a remarkable document of the biggest pop culture moment of the year, it's also elevated what is possible in the live concert space.Sponsor banner: KODE 3. THE SNAPSHOT Q&A: DON Prod[imgtoken data:13]The REBEL-based directing duo on their unusual start in film, how shooting 6-a-side football led to making music videos - and embracing the terror of tight turnarounds.Sponsor banner: ROGUE 2. Stuart McIntyre on making Sam Fender’s People Watching video - 'Andrew gave more than I could've ever asked for.'[imgtoken data:14]The commercials director, making his very first promo, says a shared experience with the acclaimed actor drove the project - and his love for a classic Gus Van Sant movie. 1. 'Where would we be without him?' Family and friends pay tribute to Oil Factory co-founder Billy Poveda, who died last month[imgtoken data:15]Billy Poveda, producer and 'pioneer and visionary of music video', passed away a few weeks ago. We spoke to his wife Heidi Herzon about the man who nurtured careers and made great work - and will always be remembered for his can-do attitude and personal warmth.

The UK Music Video Awards this year saw Kodak continue its partnership and support of the world's biggest annual celebration of music video creativity by sponsoring the Best Production Company award for the fourth year in a row.And this year at the UKMVAs a record number of nominated videos were shot on Kodak motion picture film stock took a record number of nominations: 47 productions that were shot on Kodakk film stock accrued a highly impressive 67 nominations overall. All those videos are included in the UKMVAs 2025 x Kodak #ShotOnFilm Playlist, listed here.UKMVAs25 x KODAK - The videosA$AP Rocky - Tailor Swif[vidtoken data:0]Director: Vania & MuggiaDoP: Denys LushchykProd co: IconoclastNominations: Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Video International, Best Production Design In A Video, Best Styling In A Video, Best Cinematography In A Video, Best VFX In A VideoAddison Rae - Aquamarine[vidtoken data:1]Director: Sean Price WilliamsDoP: Sean Price WilliamsProd co: Opal FilmsNomination: Best Pop/R&B/Soul/Jazz Video NewcomerAddison Rae - High Fashion[vidtoken data:2]Director: Mitch RyanDoP: Ben CareyProd co: Cadence FilmsNomination: Best Pop Video InternationalAdrianne Lenker - Not A Lot, Just Forever[vidtoken data:3]Director: Jonas BangDoP: Jason Idris AlamiProd co: Brodie SessionsNomination: Best Live VideoBad Bunny - NUEVAYoL[vidtoken data:4]Director: Renell MedranoDoP: Prod co: Virgin SoilNomination: Best Dance/Electronic Video InternationalBillie Eilish - Birds Of A Feather[vidtoken data:5]Director: Aidan ZamiriDoP: Stuart WinecoffProd co: Object & AnimalNomination: Best Pop Video InternationalBirnir – LXS[vidtoken data:6]Director: Erlendur SveinssonDoP: Anna SmoronovaNomination: Best Colour Grading In A VideoBricknasty – Vinland[vidtoken data:7]Director: Hugh MulhernDoP: Jack HamiltonNomination: Best R&B/Soul/Jazz Video InternationalCeleste - This Is Who I Am[vidtoken data:8]Director: CelesteDoP: Peter BishopProd co: CasinoNomination: Best R&B/Soul/Jazz Video UKChappell Roan – The Subway[vidtoken data:9]Director: Amber Grace JohnsonDoP: Norm LiProd co: Object & AnimalNomination: Best Pop Video International Clairo - Juna[vidtoken data:10]Director: Bradley J CalderDoP: Adrian NietoProd co: Big KidNomination: Best Alternative Video InternationalClap Your Hands Say Yeah - The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth[vidtoken data:11]Director: David M Helman & Daniel HenryDoP: Hayden MasonProd co: Screens & IconoclastNominations: Best Rock Video International, Best Editing In A VideoClipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice - Chains & Whips[vidtoken data:12]Director: Gabriel MosesDoP: Jake GabbayProd co: DivisionNominations: Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Video International, Best Casting In A VideoConan Gray - Vodka Cranberry[vidtoken data:13]Director: Danicka KleinbnechtProd co: IconoclastNominations: Best Colour Grading In A VideoCults - Onions[vidtoken data:14]Director: Alice FassiDoP: Andrea GavazziProd co: C412 & LA PACNominations: Best Alternative Video International, Best Production Design In A VideoDanna - Khe Calor[vidtoken data:15]Director: Olivia de CampsDoP: Gabriel ConnellyProd co: SMUGGLERNominations: Best Pop/R&B/Soul/Jazz Video NewcomerDJ Snake ft J Balvin - Noventa[vidtoken data:16]Director: Luis Rojo (BRBR)DoP: Prod co: Birth/HorologesNominations: Best Dance/Electronic Video InternationalDoechii - Anxiety[vidtoken data:17]Director: James MackelDoP: Nico AguilarProd co: More AvenueNominations: Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Video InternationalElton John – Step Into Christmas[vidtoken data:18]Director: Dan FrenchDoP: Ben CotgroveProd co: Stink FilmsNomination: Best Pop Video UKEnglish Teacher - Not Everybody Gets To Go To Space[vidtoken data:19]Director: SLANEDoP: Jack MaddisonProd co: DEEGEENomination: Best Live VideoHaim – Relationships[vidtoken data:20]Director: Camille Summers ValliProd co: MJZ Nomination: Best Styling In A VideoGeese - Taxes[vidtoken data:21]Director: Noel PaulDoP: Léa TailleferProd co: FRIENDNomination: Best Alternative Video InternationalGuitarricadelafuente - BABEIECA![vidtoken data:22]Director: BELDoP: Juanjo SalazarProd co: AgostoNomination: Best Cinematography In A Video - NewcomerIsabella Lovestory - Vanity[vidtoken data:23]Director: Tohé CommaretDoP: Serguei MedvedevProd co: Premier CriNomination: Best Pop/R&B/Soul/Jazz Video NewcomerJoy Orbison – Bastard[vidtoken data:24]Director/DoP: Josh RenautProd co: XL RecordingsNomination: Best Colour Grading In A Video - NewcomerJuan Duarte – Maquina Latina[vidtoken data:25]Director: Boy Princess DoP: João RubioProd co: IconoclastNomination: Best Low Budget VideoLittle Simz ft Obonjayar & Moonchild Sanelly - Flood[vidtoken data:26]Director: Salomon Lightelm DoP: Rina YangProd co: PRETTYBIRDNomination: Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Video UK, Best Choreography In A Video, Best Cinematography In A VideoLorde - Hammer[vidtoken data:27]Director: Renell MetranoDoP: Max PittnerProd co: ICE StudiosNomination: Best Alternative Video InternationalLouis Culture ft Tora-i, Richie - Babe[vidtoken data:28]Director: Ella EzeikeDoP: Mika Altskan & Jack ReynoldsProd co: EleanorNomination: Best Pop/R&B/Soul/Jazz Video NewcomerLowswimmer - IRL[vidtoken data:29]Director: Victor Nauwynck and Leo VillaresDoP: Andy PMLProd co: Picloc ProductionsNomination: Best Rock/Alternative Video NewcomerLoyle Carner – Lyin[vidtoken data:30]Director: Ben Coyle-Larner DoP: Mattias RudhProd co: Spindle Nomination: Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Video NewcomerMaribou State – All I Need[vidtoken data:31]Director: Giordano MaestrelliDoP: Mauricio PadilhaProd co: Stink FilmsNomination: Best Dance/Electronic Video UKObongjayar - Sweet Danger[vidtoken data:32]Director: Sophie Jones DoP: Jack ExtonProd co: SomesuchNomination: Best R&B/Soul/Jazz Video UKOracle Sisters - Blue Left Hand[vidtoken data:33]Director: Jim LongdenDoP: Balthazar LabProd co: HenryNomination: Best Alternative Video InternationalOscar Jerome - The Fork[vidtoken data:34]Director: Milo BlakeDoP: Nikita PopkovsProd co: SpindleNomination: Best R&B/Soul/Jazz Video UKRIMON – Where Do We Go?[vidtoken data:35]Director: Gabriel DuguéDoP: Angelo MarquesProd co: OcurensNomination: Best R&B/Soul/Jazz Video InternationalRizzle Kicks – New Sport[vidtoken data:36]Director: EarthboiDoP: Toby LearyProd co: ScaryTownNomination: Best Colour Grading In A Video - NewcomerRubel - Ouro/ReckonerDirector: Larissa ZaidanDoP: Prod co: KAUSNomination: Best Colour Grading In A VideoSabrina Carpenter – Manchild[vidtoken data:37]Director: Vania & MuggiaDoP: Christopher RipleyProd co: IconoclastNomination: Best Pop Video International, Best Performance In A Video, Best Production Design In A Video, Best Cinematography In A VideoSam Fender - People Watching[vidtoken data:38]Director: Stuart McIntyre DoP: Max GoldmanProd co: Wanda ProductionsNomination: Best Rock Video UKSon Lux - Flickers[vidtoken data:39]Director: Petr VlčekDoP: Mikuláš HrdličkaProd co: FAMUNomination: Best Cinematography In A Video - NewcomerTravis Scott - 4x4[vidtoken data:40]Director: Gabriel Moses DoP: Jake GabbayProd co: Division Nominations: Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Video International, Best Cinematography In A VideoTravis Scott - DYSTI[vidtoken data:41]Director: Jordan HemingwayDoP:Prod co: LafourNomination: Best Cinematography In A VideoWolf Alice – Bloom Baby Bloom[vidtoken data:42]Director: Colin Solal CardoDoP - Jeremy ValenderProd co: Stink FilmsNominations: Best Rock Video UK, Best Choreography In A Video, Best Styling In A VideoWolf Alice – The Sofa[vidtoken data:43]Director: Fiona Jane Burgess DoP: Harry WheelerProd co: SMUGGLERNomination: Best Rock Video UKYamé - Solo[vidtoken data:44]Director: Jonathan SteuerDoP: Pierre Loys JoubertProd co: Blogotheque Nomination: Best Live VideoYung Lean – Forever Yung[vidtoken data:45]Director: Aidan Zamiri DoP: James BeattieProd co: Object & Animal Nomination: Best Styling In A Video•

Rodrigo Inada directs a spectacular tour de force for Taiwanese pop icon Jolin, centred in an extraordinary desert landscape, where the artist is haunted by the memory of a lost love. Shot in Dubai, the video for Fish Love shifts between present and poetic flashbacks, Jolin repeatedly encounters the same mysterious figure, largely rendered as a shadow, blurring the line between memory and imagination.As we have seen in his previous videos this year, such as Jackson Wang's High Alone and Celeste's On With The Show - both nominated at this year's UKMVAs - Inada is capable of meticulously crafted visions on a grand scale - and this is undoubtedly among his grandest yet.[imgtoken data:1]"I thought it was the perfect opportunity to create a love story that was more inside of Jolin’s head than in the physical world," explains Inada. "How it feels like to be haunted by memories of a past love."Growing up, sci-fi was always one of my favourite genres. To work with shadows as a character was something that I have been studying for years now and trying to make it work in couple of my past videos, but this time I think I finally made it work."Inada reveals that weather conditions whilst shooting in the desert meant what was planned as VFX was actuallyt achieved in-camera.[imgtoken data:2]"I wrote on the treatment a sandstorm that was supposed to happen in VFX, but on the day of the shoot a real sandstorm started to happen in front of our eyes," he reveals."It was crazy, everything started flying around, there was sand in our eyes, but Pierre [de Kerchove, DOP] kept shooting through the sandstorm. Some of the shots you can see on the video the sky is pretty foggy you barely can see the city behind. That was real."Of course we had a crazy VFX post from Ryan [Dylan Selkirk] and his team as well on the sandstorm of the video. Shout out to all my collaborators that made this video come to life. Pierre did an amazing job, Side-Eye smashed it on the post, as well as Aaron Saiki on the edit and Daniel de Vue on the grading."Last but not least, the production team that supported me from the start Maurizio Von Trapp and Pegah [Farahmand]. This was a crazy ambitious idea and I am really glad it got made."

Rosalía gets active in the wonderful video for La Perla by Stillz, from her extraordinary new album Lux.Whether she's a fencer, or an ice hockey player, driving a supercar or wearing super-padded clothing to prevent her being savaged by dangerous dogs, Rosalía looks amazing - and under the direction of longtime collaborator Stillz, it feels completely natural. Effortless, in fact. What a great video. It's a joy to watch, another lovely showcase of music from this groundbreaking record, and if we were handing out prizes for video artist of the year, even with some very stiff competition around you'd be tempted to say that on the basis of this (and of course, the amazing Berghain) Rosalía is a cut above the rest.[imgtoken data:1] [imgtoken data:2]