Hannah Ashby Ward

Casting director

Lane Casting

Lucy Knox directs an intimate portrait of life on the Isle of Sheppey, in this&nbsp;tender promo for Australian band DMA's.&nbsp;Shot with a crew of four at the start of the year, the video is a charming exploration of people and place, following a central narrative with accompanying portrait vignettes of different residents.&nbsp;Exploring the complex relationship between a father and his daughter, the video is one that really pulls at the heartstrings, and the docu-style aesthetic helps convey a story that is both personal and universally relatable.&nbsp;A masterclass in blending narrative and documentary elements, and a very well executed video indeed.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Australia

Margherita Alaimo

Lucy Knox

Sandrus Wilson

Tina Ldn

I Oh You

Nathan Rubins

Henry Lockyer

Charlotte Skeate

Rebecca Richards

Leila Gaabi

The Editors

Matt Fezz

Nick Bartlett

Natasha Atkinson

Indie Rock

DMA's 'Forever' by Lucy Knox

Dma's-'Forever'-by-Lucy-Knox

On your&nbsp;marks, get set... go euphoric, with Fa &amp; Fon's hypnotically zany video for Georgia.The California-via-London artist is back with new single It's Euphoric, and the directing duo make her the star of her own wonderfully strange, uber-stylised world&nbsp;set in a the world's coolest athletics track.Georgia joins a intriguing cast of characters in a race around the track, where her competitors are weighed down with anxiety, and their devotion to Fashion.&nbsp;And soon the visual echoes of their bodies warp and glitch intermittently.It's a wonderfully vibrant, idiosyncratic vision, where Georgia stands at the pretention-pricking centre of a memorable clash of inventive styling and cool FX.&nbsp;Every shot works to reinforce its whimisical distinctiveness, yet Georgia emerges as the hero, both part of and apart from the surrounding lunacy.&nbsp;&nbsp;It's&nbsp;arguably the most impressive outing in music videos by the Watkins sisters - aka Fa &amp; Fon -&nbsp;so far.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;[imgtoken data:2][imgtoken data:3]

United Kingdom

Ellie Beale

Troy Smith

Dan Hills

Innes Woo

Fa and Fon

Rachel Bashford

Riff Raff Films

Phil Lee

Ryan Delahunty

Ahmet Hüsseyin

Laura Clayton

Alexander Miguel-guerreiro

Ty Hack

Robert Barlow

Samuel Harding

Max Edmed

Gabriel Healy

Laura Vallejo

Rapahel Arcadios

Lainy Black

The Assembly Rooms

Katie Dymmock 

The Mill

Domino Recordings

Sebastian Foux

Alternative

Georgia 'It's Euphoric' by Fa & Fon

Georgia - It's Euphoric (Official Video)

An intense, grotesque, extraordinary&nbsp;video for Slowthai by directing collective Crowns &amp; Owls.With great cinematography by Jack Exton and terrific grade by Tim Smith that punches the richness of the colours to the max, this has a hyperreal visual aesthetic as visceral as this powerful track&nbsp;deserves, without sinking into darkness.But at the heart is the performance of Tyron Frampton&nbsp;(aka Slowthai) himself, which is remarkable. It's a visible howl of anguish and pain, but still with that unmistakeable chink of impudence and humour.

Crowns & Owls

Javier Alejandro

Noir

Theo Hue Williams

Ella Kenny

Jack Exton

Mike Linforth

Ky Brasey

Greg Probert

Lyndon Ogbourne

Frankie Noller

Karla Quinoniz-Leon

Tim Smith

No.8

Pendulum

John Holloway

Edit Egg

Amanda Dann

Slowthai 'Yum' by Crowns & Owls

slowthai - Yum (Official Video)

The Director's Cut of Marc Oller's video for Arlo Parks' Weightless arrives, and adds weight to the symbolism around a story of a&nbsp;couple falling out of love.Oller employs powerful visual metaphors to tell the tale, which are given free rein in this version: Arlo in a car with no driver, a house breaking apart, cars crashing, and perhaps most powerfully of all,&nbsp;a wild horse having escaped from its captor, running free&nbsp;in the city.Within these scenes, Parks herself comes across strongly, performing the song which is the first release from her forthcoming album, My Soft Machine - the anticipated follow-up to her Brit and Mercury Prize-winning debut Collapsed In Sunbeams.[imgtoken data:1]Shot in Serbia last December, Oller says that ‘’we followed the brief of how a lover gets tethered to the idea of someone, either to how good it felt at the beginning or how close things are to looking up, whilst also wanting to present Arlo in a way that her fans had not seen before." He adds that this presented various challenges on the shoot, particularly due to bad weather affecting the production."We had to recreate the exact same room we were shooting in an apartment, then wreck it with a bulldozer," he says. "The construction team was outstanding."[imgtoken data:2]So was the horse, called Asa - who is a magnificent presence in the video, captured wonderfully by DoP Zach Spiger and his team. "Asa was a great actress - we all fell in love with her and she actually made our lives easy," says Oller. "Unfortunately, it was raining heavily and the shoot was constantly interrupted by the storm. This tightened our schedule and we had to sacrifice many shots that we had planned on shooting."&nbsp;Shot on film, which also presented challenges in terms of finding the right kit for "an old school kind of shoot", Oller adds that he was supported by both familiar and new collaborators to achieve his goals.[imgtoken data:3]"They were all amazingly talented and invested in the project," he declares. "Zack Spiger is an old collaborator - we shot a short film back in the day when I lived in Tokyo; Vicki Viñas is one of my longest time collaborators and she’s an outstanding art director and has the best taste; Alberto Ojeda is one of the best steadicam operators in Spain; and Ana Cano is my oldest collaborator and my ‘go-to’ for hair and makeup."And I loved working with our new Head of Music Videos at CANADA, Callum Harrison, who always challenged me to keep pushing the boundaries of creativity and was a great support."[imgtoken data:4]

Serbia

Marc Oller

CANADA

Callum Harrison

Sara Renteria

Anna Bacardit

Débora Zhang

Zack Spiger

Vicki Viñas

Fouad Gaber

William Kjarval

Cyber Few Good Men

Vuk Marjanovic

Lewis Munday

Emilie Louizides

Natalia Vega

Ana Cano

Alberto Ojeda

Arlo Parks 'Weightless' (Director's Cut) by Marc Oller

Arlo Parks - Weightless (DC)

Tanu Muino brings us the first outstanding British music video event of 2023 with Sam Smith's unabashed, splendidly theatrical and joyfully outrageous video for I'm Not Here To Make Friends.Exuberant,&nbsp;eccentric, and defiantly brazen, this sees Sam Smith dispensing with any last vestige of previous public incarnations and embracing their queer superstar status with gusto - but also with a healthy self-knowing nod and a wink.Sam arrives by helicopter to a historic countryside manor, joining&nbsp;a gregarious crowd to engage is an extravagant costume party for the ages, over an inspirational sample of RuPaul before the disco beat of this surefire smash kicks in. And eyebrows&nbsp;are soon being raised...[imgtoken data:1]There is dancing. There are some extraordinary outfits. There's rowdy behaviour. And there is some very suggestive things going on, including a scene that may possibly be inspired by Frankie Goes To Hollywood's video for Relax!Throughout is the stunning array of costumes and looks, and Sam's playful and sexy performance, which dazzles in every vignette. They are clearly having the time of their lives.&nbsp;Bringing together so many different layers and inspirations - including a knowing nod to Steven Klein's&nbsp;promo for Gaga's Alejandro&nbsp;- the video oozes self-love and an excitable confidence, and is the perfect release to complement Gloria, Smith's just-released new album.It just ticks all the boxes it's supposed to tick - and that is really down to the genius of Tanu Muino. She just knows what a pop video like this should do, and achieved it, from start to finish.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Morgan Kennedy

Ben Reardon

Tanu Muino

Robert Katz

UnderWonder Content

James Hackett

Nikita Kuzmenko

Frank Borin

Fred Bonham Carter

Alexa Haywood

Chris Kelly

Sam Rawlings

Ben Cascillo Roger

Luke Bradley

La Horde

Sorcha O'raghallaigh

Nick Royal

Ryo Narushima

Neil Moodie

Grace Ellington

Miranda Joyce

Vinnie Hobbs

Vh Post

Company 3

Joseph Bicknell

Roma Onufriychuk

Tilt

Ivanna Borin

Alexa Haywood at Free Agent UK

Just Fred

Hannah Cooper

Spencer Graves

Sam Smith 'I'm Not Here To Make Friends' by Tanu Muino

Sam Smith - I'm Not Here To Make Friends

Hector Dockrill directs a heartwrenching promo for new Lewis Capaldi track Pointless.&nbsp;The narrative for the video captures a mother-son relationship with beautiful and heart-breaking intimacy. Spanning a couple of decades, the concept follows a&nbsp;single mother who strives against all odds to give her son the life she never had, and is packed with an emotional punch.&nbsp;With a wonderful performance&nbsp;from&nbsp;BAFTA winner Niamh Algar (The Virtues, Raised by Wolves)&nbsp;and three actors playing the son at different stages of his life - including Charley Palmer-Rothwell as her grown-up son -&nbsp;the video reinterprets the song's lyrics to explore a different type of relationship, and it works perfectly.[imgtoken data:1]The naturalistic cinematography and relatable themes help make the video feel incredibly realistic and universal, and it will no doubt have viewers thinking about their own loved ones as we enter the festive period.&nbsp;With mixed dialogue throughout, we both hear and see glimpses into the ups and downs of their daily lives over the years including financial hardship and the tightrope of being a working single parent. And in keeping with the theme of family, Laura Dockrill – Hector’s sister - wrote the script, making this a family affair both on and off screen.“Lewis had a beautiful idea that focused on the mother/son bond, and how responsibility shifts as you grow older," says Hector Dockrill. "Niamh Algar is a phenomenal talent and we’re already chomping at the bit to work together again. With only a week’s prep, she managed to immerse herself into the role and completely make it her own. This is definitely a special film that everybody can connect with – a shout out to every mother.”

Hector Dockrill

Nnena Nwakodo

Joseph J Goldman

Hands 

Pulse Films

Zoe Gunn

Patrick Golan

Anthony Mchugh

Steve Cameron

Robyn Wilton

Verity May Lane

Natasha Lawes

Begona F Martin

Holly Shearn

Stitch Editing

Sarah Adewunmi

Rich Woolway

Electric Theatre Collective

Oscar Wendt

Jason Wallis

Caroline Clayton

Lewis Capaldi 'Pointless' by Hector Dockrill 

Lewis Capaldi - Pointless (Official Video)

A battle ensues for Wizkid's heart, in CHILD's stylish, UK-shot promo for Bad To Me.&nbsp;On the set of a contemporary TV show, we are introduced to various behind the scenes staff, including a showrunner the artist is romantically involved in.&nbsp;Between the glitzy performance setups and entertaining vignettes, we see this romance develop as several other women have their eye on him.&nbsp;It's a glamorous affair, from the slick styling through to the effervescent lighting, and the video is already racking up the views in the millions.&nbsp;

Syd Harmony

Karen Binns

CHILD

Dasha Deriagina

De La Revolucion

MrMr

freenjoy

Camille Yorrick

Tom Nowell

Joel Honeywell

Chanel Parkinson

Alasdair Copland

Callum Watt

Ernest Tu

Joel Spence

Mikey Boats

Shamara Roper

Emma Miles

Laura Cairney-keize

Trim Editing

Luke Morrison

Mikko Ruostila

Wizkid 'Bad To Me' by CHILD

Wizkid-'Bad-To-Me'-by-Child

In a 20th anniversary celebration of Christina Aguilera's classic ballad Beautiful, Fiona Jane Burgess delves into what is plaguing the youth of today in a series of striking tableaux that focus on the threat of social media and 'influencer' culture on the wellbeing of the impressionable young.The video starts with a series of children blankly staring at their phones, their eyes lit up by their phone screens. Burgess brings each character’s insecurity to life as the camera pans from different perspectives. Young girls stare at themselves in the mirror, covered in cosmetic surgery incision lines, not convinced by the song’s powerful lyrics.&nbsp;But ultimately, as with Aguilera's classic song, this is ultimagely a message of hope.&nbsp;The video ends with a powerful shot of kids playing hopscotch and climbing trees. It is a reminder that should be instilled in every child; it’s okay to just be a kid.[imgtoken data:1] FIONA JANE BURGESS:“This film is a love letter to young people in 2022. It’s an acknowledgement of the fact that social media has totally transformed our relationship with our bodies, and in turn, our mental health."Young people are constantly fed images of unrealistic beauty standards, and with more images and influencers than ever circulating online, it’s virtually impossible to control what information young people consume. This in turn has created an online world which can be as positive as it is volatile. This film explores the tension between progression versus regression in terms of beauty standards and how our cultural relationship to it has evolved in the last twenty years, specifically in relation to the impact it’s having on children and young people.[imgtoken data:2]<blockquote>My hope is that this film opens up a conversation around... images and messages children are consuming.</blockquote>"Research suggests that time spent on social networking sites is associated with body image issues and disordered eating in teens. According to emergency room trends, there’s been a 50% increase in reported self-injury among teenagers since 2009."According to a paper published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, more than half of girls and one-third of boys ages 6 to 8 are unhappy with their body weight. And more than 80 percent of 10-year-olds are afraid of being “fat.” This is heartbreaking. This needs to change. And this film aims to be part of that change.[imgtoken data:3]"This film is an act of resilience. A celebration of courage and self love. A love letter, a signal for change in the way we perceive beauty. My hope is that this film opens up a conversation around the potential harm associated with what images and messages children are consuming, if it’s not spoken about and discussed."I think a lot of children and young people feel suffocated by the online world but don’t know if they’re alone in feeling this way, so for me this film is about acknowledging that they aren’t alone, that it’s normal to have insecurities and to try to have a balanced view of social media and not let it dictate the way we think of ourselves.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

United States

Fiona Jane Burgess

Blair Smith

SMUGGLER

Elizabeth Doonan

Robert Diment

Andreas Bjørseth

Josh Brooks

Ola Austad

Seth Crosby

Max Bellhouse

Natalie Wilkins

Josh Knight

Jo Lewandowska

Okay Studio

Julien Alary

Untold Studios

Kodak

Digital Orchard

Christina Aguilera 'Beautiful (2022 Version)' by Fiona Jane Burgess

Christina Aguilera - Beautiful (2022 Version)

Floria Sigismondi returns to music videos with a theatrical blockbuster for Sam Smith's chart-topping Unholy,&nbsp;featuring Kim Petras.Shot in London, this eye-popping extravaganza&nbsp;is a musical set-piece packed with flair, pizzazz and sexual energy - with Sam as the charismatic MC of a small army of show-people at&nbsp;The Body Shop, the LGBTQ+ cabaret where lustful dreams come true.&nbsp;With cameos by Gottmik and Violet Chachki from RuPaul's Drag Race,&nbsp;and porn star Paddy O'Brian, the film follows a husband who ducks out on his wife and sneaks off to his favorite sex club cabaret, where he soon finds his guilty pleasures revealed in a very public manner. After discovering her husband’s unfaithful ways, the film concludes with the wife character becoming liberated by her own sexuality, rather than a victim to the scandal.A modern retelling of the spectacle of cabaret, Sigismondi&nbsp;has drawn upon her&nbsp;upbringing for this - she was born to Italian opera singer parents, and grew up amid the theatrical and the avant-garde&nbsp;- and applied her&nbsp;trademark cinematic style previously seen in her award-winning work for the likes of Gucci, Rihanna, David Bowie, and Justin Timberlake.Choreographed by French dance collective (LA)HORDE, who are famed for their ability to develop scenarios and actions that take up radically contemporary themes and questions, the seductive music video is a visual feast led by a diverse and queer cast.With references to French surrealist photographer Claude Cahun and noted corset maker of the late 20th Century, Mr. Pearl, the video’s costume designer Lisa Jarvis created an impressive range of otherworldly looks for the enormous ensemble, who were cast&nbsp;by Hannah Ashby Ward at Lane Casting (an LGBTQ+ owned company) to showcase&nbsp;real, diverse and unapologetic bodies.&nbsp;Floria Sigismondi, Director, comments: “I grew up in the world of theatre and opera. This film presented the platform for me to reach deep into that history. It was important to me to bring the theatrics and drama to the film while also giving it a modern feel. We were not interested in creating a period piece. We wanted to create our own world. The theatre and setting gave us the history of cabaret but the costumes broadened that and injected a modern element. For me it's a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and creating that celebration was the most important and joyous experience."Jannie McInnes, Executive Producer at Scheme Engine, adds: “The creative excellence and expression across departments on this project completely blew my mind. Floria sets a high bar, inspires people to bring their most creative selves and she wants everyone to have fun doing it. We are really grateful to Sam and the label for affording us the luxury of real prep time and we used every second of it!”Lisa Jarvis, Wardrobe Stylist, continues: “I've been a fan of Floria's work for quite a while, and as soon as I saw the mood board and heard A Clockwork Orange, Claude Cahun, Mr. Pearl, Crazy Horse, I knew it was right up my alley and would be hella fun to dive into. Taking the references in mind, I wanted to create a world where there was a huge range of visual looks and everyone embraced them. It needed to be otherworldly, opulent, sensual, and a little bit intoxicating to watch with more than a strong twist of naughty.” &nbsp;

Sam Smith ft Kim Petras 'Unholy' by Floria Sigismondi

Lane Casting

Casting director

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