Following the relaunch of the Music Video Production Association (MVPA) earlier this year, the MVPA has now announced the nominations of the 2020 MVPA Awards.

The MVPA partnered with the UK Music Video Awards this year to arrive at the shortlists in 25 categories: any videos by US directors, production companies or artists which were entered in the UKMVAs this year, then automatically qualified for the MVPA Awards in that same or similar category.

These entries have now been through a separate selection process to the UKMVAs, and after a first round of judging online, live discussions have been held recently via Zoom, involving a specially selected panel of MVPA board members and associates spanning a range of disciplines. These judging panels voted in a secret ballot to produce the final shortlist and winner for each award.

Here is the full list of nominations: 

Best Pop Video
Doja Cat – Say So
Harry Styles – Adore You
Rosalía – A Palé
Rosalía, Travis Scott – TKN
The Weeknd – Blinding Lights

Best R&B/Soul Video
Beyoncé, Shatta Wale, Major Lazer – Already
FKA twigs ft Future – Holy Terrain
Marvin Gaye – What's Going On
Samm Henshaw – The World Is Mine
The Weeknd – Heartless

Best Hip Hop/Rap Video
A$AP Rocky – Babushka Boi
DaBaby ft Roddy Rich – Rockstar BLM remix
Flatbush Zombies – After Life
Roddy Ricch – The Box
Run The Jewels ft Greg Nice & DJ Premier – Ooh La La

Best Dance/Electronic Video
Bronson – Keep Moving
Diplo & Sidepiece – On My Mind
Disclosure – Energy
Saint JHN – Roses (Imanbek remix)
Waze & Odyssey, George Michael, Mary J Blige & Tommy Theo – Always

Best Rock Video
Joywave – Obsession
The Strokes – Bad Decisions
The Strokes – Ode To The Mets
Yungblud – Hope for the Underrated Youth
Yungblud ft Dan Reynolds – Original Me

Best Alternative Video
FKA twigs – Sad Day
Orville Peck – No Glory In The West
Tame Impala – Lost In Yesterday
Thom Yorke – Last I Heard (...He was Circling the Drain)
Young Fathers – The Revelation

Best International Video
Dua Lipa – Break My Heart
Dua Lipa – Physical
Stormzy – Sounds of the Skeng
Stormzy ft Headie One – Audacity
Woodkid – Goliath

Best Newcomer Video
Alaskan Tapes – And, We Disappear
Amy Allen – Difficult
Braids – Just Let Me Go
Ill Peach – Gum
Mild Minds ft Boats – Walls

Best Lockdown Video
Anne-Marie ft Doja Cat – To Be Young
DaBaby ft Roddy Rich – Rockstar BLM remix
Drake – Toosie slide
Jorja Smith – Come Over
Marshmello & Halsey – Be Kind

Best Special Video Project
Beastie Boys Story
Beyoncé – Black Is King
DaBaby ft Roddy Ricch – Rockstar live on BET Awards 2020
Miles Davis – Birth Of The Cool
Rosalía – La Rosalía

Best Styling in a Video
Beyoncé, Shatta Wale, Major Lazer – Already
FKA twigs ft Future – Holy Terrain
Joywave – Obsession
Kygo & Whitney Houston – Higher Love
The Weeknd – Heartless

Best Production Design in a Video
A$AP Rocky – Babushka Boi
Beyoncé, Shatta Wale, Major Lazer – Already
Billie Eilish – All good girls go to hell
DJ Shadow ft De La Soul – Rocket Fuel
Taylor Swift – Lover

Best Choreography in a Video
Beyoncé, Shatta Wale, Major Lazer – Already
FKA twigs ft Future – Holy Terrain
FKA twigs – Sad Day
Kygo & Whitney Houston – Higher Love
Rosalía, Travis Scott – TKN

Best Cinematography in a Video
Doja Cat – Say So
FKA twigs – Sad Day
Harry Styles – Adore You
Leonard Cohen – The Hills
The Weeknd – Blinding Lights

Best Colour Grading in a Video
Doja Cat – Say So
Eden – Projector
Harry Styles – Adore You
Harry Styles – Watermelon Sugar
The Weeknd – After Hours

Best Editing in a Video
Beyoncé, Shatta Wale, Major Lazer – Already
DJ Shadow ft De La Soul – Rocket Fuel
FKA twigs – Sad Day
Kygo & Whitney Houston – Higher Love
The Weeknd – Blinding Lights

Best Visual Effects in a Video
Bronson – Keep Moving
Flatbush Zombies – After Life
Harry Styles – Adore You
Taylor Swift – Cardigan
Waze & Odyssey, George Michael, Mary J Blige & Tommy Theo – Always

Best Animation in a Video
Ashnikko ft Grimes – Cry
J Balvin – Azul
Moby – My Only Love
The Strokes – Ode To The Mets
Thom Yorke – Last I Heard (...He Was Circling The Drain)

Best Agent
Jamie Rabineau
Martijn Hostetler
Pattie Sueoka
Tommy Labuda
Trevor Kossack

Best Commissioner
Camille Yorrick
Joanna Carter
Kate Miller
Michelle An
Phil Botti

Best Producer
Brandon Bonfiglio
Fuliane Petikyan
Megan Gutman
Nathan Scherrer
Roisin Audrey Moloney

Best New Director
C Prinz
Christian Breslauer
Daniel Russell
Kimberly Stuckwisch
Similar But Different

Best Director
Anton Tammi
Bradley & Pablo
Dave Meyers
Hannah Lux Davis
Warren Fu

Best Production Company
freenjoy
Iconoclast
London Alley Entertainment
Prettybird
Somesuch

Best Post Production Company
CameoFX
FRENDER
Ingenuity Studios
Sunset Edit
The Mill

Fuliane Petikyan, President of the MVPA, remarks, “The Awards specifically were created to recognize talent in all the categories amongst our peers. It was important that the launch of the new MVPA included a diverse board that was invested in the growth of our industry and cultivating the creativity in all departments and genres of the production of music videos.”

Petikyan adds: “For years we have admired how the UKMVA have invested and produced their awards and by collaborating with them in 2020, we took on those same principles. Louise Stevens, who has been producing the UKMVAs for the last decade, oversaw each phase of voting and vetted all entries for fairness to ensure that no jurors could vote on a music video project they worked on or that their company produced.”

It’s the only US video awards show with a specific focus on the producers, directors, and other creatives
and crew who make the videos.

On formulating the judging process for the freshly relaunched MVPA Awards, Louise Stevens says: “We were able to share our knowledge and expertise to make voting in round one available to a large pool of over 120 jurors drawn from all across the industry via our bespoke platform. Our thanks go to those initial jurors whose votes provided us with a long list for each category, which then were taken through to round two."

Stevens adds: “There was some lively discussion, and rigorous attention to detail in the final voting, but the sessions also revealed a shared passion for the work on display and a determination to celebrate the incredible talent behind it. I commend all those who took part for their commitment to the process.” 

Steven Gottlieb, Director of Videostatic, was among the group that participated in round two of voting. Speaking to the welcome return of the MVPA Awards, he says, “It’s the only US video awards show with a specific focus on the producers, directors, and the other creatives and crew who make the videos. Voting this year was a rigorous and serious process involving multiple rounds and screenings to ensure that everything got the appropriate look, and yielded shortlists that reflected the year in music video.”

Dave Hussey, Colorist at Company 3, also voted in the second judging panel, saying, “We had such a great group of judges this year from a wide spectrum of the different disciplines in our business. This enabled us to have a wide perspective of opinions and some lively discussion about the many amazing entrants this year. We had many new and upcoming talents entered as well as quite a few familiar names. It wasn’t easy but we did our best to select some incredible nominees and I’m very satisfied with our selections.”

The winners and a possible awards event will be announced in the coming weeks, pending COVID rules and regulations. Additionally, the MVPA will be hosting various roundtables with nominees this month. Stay tuned for updates by following @themvpa.  

For MVPA Awards sponsorship opportunities or membership information, contact info@mvpa.com.