HONORING THE CREATORS BEHIND THE CURTAINS

FOR THE YEAR OF 2025

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LIST VIEW
 

GRAND CRAFT

BEST DIRECTING

"Berghain"- Rosalía ft. Björk & Yves Tumor - directed by Nicolás Méndez (prod: CANADA)

"Stranger" - Doja Cat - directed by Dave Meyers (prod: freenjoy)

"NuevaYoL" - Bad Bunny - directed by Renell Medrano (prod: Virgil Soil Pictures)

"Loser" - Tame Impala - directed by Sam Kristofski (prod: Screens, Iconoclast & GoodWorld Creative)

"The Birds Don’t Sing" - Clipse, John Legend, Voices of Fire, Pusha T & Malice - directed by Brendan O’Connor (prod: Shotclock)

BEST INNOVATIVE DIRECTION

"Toxic Romantic"- Duckwrth - directed by Griffin Olis (prod: ArtCamp)

"SWMF" - Labrinth - directed by Brendan Walter (prod: TRESCO)

"TAKITA" - LESRAM - directed by BLEU DESERT (prod: Henry)

"Love" - OK Go - directed by Damian Kulash, Aaron Duffy, Miguel Espada

"Shoot" - Yamê - directed by King She (prod: Henry)

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BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

"NuevaYoL" - BadBunny - cinematography by Ryan Marie Helfant (dir: Renell Medrano; prod: Virgin Soil Pictures)

"Pikito" - Ozuna, Beéle - cinematography by Mike Long (dir: Raymi Paulus; prod: DRKT Studios)

"Dreamin’"- Dom Dolla ft. Daya  - cinematography by Tom Black (dir: Kyle Caulfield & Shevin Dissanayake)

"Loser" - Tame Impala - cinematography by Charlie Sarroff (dir: Sam Kristofski; prod: Screens, Iconoclast & Goodwork Creative)

"Lonely Avenue"- Jon Batiste, Randy Newman - cinematography by Joshua Zucker-Pluda (dir: David Henry Gerson)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

"Tears" - Sabrina Carpenter - production design by Brittany Porter (dir: Bardia Zeinali; prod: freenjoy, Anonymous Content)

"Eyes Closed" - JISOO, Zayn - production design by Jonathan Qualtere (dir: Ivanna Borin, Frank Borin; prod: Underwonder)

"Supernatural" - Ariana Grande - production design by Alex Delgado (dir: Christian Breslauer; prod: London Alley, Lucky Bastards)

"Helium" - The Chainsmokers - production design by Brittany Porter (dir: Alex Acy; prod: Bodeyco)

"Pokemon" - Wet Leg -production design by Isaac Aaron (dir: Elliot Arndt; prod: Sura Productions)

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BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

"Anxiety" - Doechii - choreography by Robbie Blue 

"Gnarly" - KATESEYE - choreography by Grant Gilmore, Sohey Sugihara, Sienna Lalau (dir: Cody Critcheloe; prod: Ambience)

"Revolving Door" - Tate McRae - choreography by Robbie Blue (dir: Aerin Moreno; prod: Radiance)

"Tears" - Sabrina Carpenter - choreography by Jasmine Badie (dir: Bardia Zeinali; prod: freenjoy)

"Vampire Diaries" - MGK - choreography by Sean Bankhead (dir: Sam Cahill; prod: AJR Films)
 

BEST STYLING

"Sports Car"- Tate McRae - styling by Brett Alan Nelson (dir: Bardia Zeinali; prod: Anonymous Content)

"Imaginary Playerz"- Cardi B - styling by Kolin Carter (dir: Cardi B, Patience Foster; prod: Vanta, Artifact Content)

"Jealous Type"- Doja Cat - styling by Brett Alan Nelson (dir: Boni Mata; prod: freenjoy)

"Cannibalism!"- Slayyyter - styling by Slayyyter (dir: Slayyyter; prod: Tresco)

"Gone Gone Gone"- David Guetta, Teddy Swims, Tone and I - styling by Christian Stroble, Britt Mccamey, Jessica Paster, Rachel Haas (dir: Hannah Lux Davis; prod: London Alley)

BEST HAIR & MAKEUP

"Gorgeous" - Doja Cat - hair & makeup by Jawara Wauchope, Sam Visser (dir: Bardai Zeinali; 

prod: freenjoy)

"Cuntissimo" - Maria - hair & makeup by Gregg Lennon Jr, Nick Lennon, Kandi Hernandez (dir: Olivia de Camps; prod: CANADA)

"Gone Gone Gone" - David Guetta, Teddy Swims, Tone and I - hair & makeup by Kimberly Esther, Natalia, Tessa Annroinette (dir: Hannah Lux Davis; prod: London Alley)

"Dancing2" - Keli Holiday - hair & makeup by Meg McConville (dir: Ryan Sauer)

"Muddy" - Sophie Powers - hair & makeup by Nikki Carmella, Allie Elizabeth (dir: Logan Rice, Sophie Powers; prod: Typeface Studios)

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BEST ACTING

"Little Bit Closer" - Sam Fender - starring Owen Cooper (dir: Sam Nutt; prod: Blindeye Films)

"Zombie" - Yungblud - starring Florence Pugh (dir: Charlie Sarsfield; prod: Untold Studios)

"Watch Me Go" - Lord Huron - starring Jongman Kim (dir: Jackie Zhou; prod: exgirlfriend)

"Psycho Killer" - Talking Heads - starring Saoirse Ronan (dir: Mike Mills; prod: MJZ)

"Loser" - Tame Impala - starring Joe Keery (dir: Sam Kristofski; prod: Screens, Iconoclast & GoodWorld Creative)

BEST CASTING

"Chains & Whips" - Clipse, Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Malice - casting by Copelan Cash, Esprit Casting (dir: Gabriel Moses; prod: Division)

"Gorgeous" - Doja Cat - casting by Ignacio Murillo, Kathryn Costigan & Morgan Sensei (dir: Bardia Zeinali; prod: freenjoy)

"Little Bit Closer" - Sam Fender - casting by Antonia Murphy (dir: Sam Nutt; prod: Blindeye Films)

"Sugar On My Tongue" - Tyler, The Creator - "casting by Copenan Cash, Esprit Casting (dir: Tyler, The Creator; prod: Happy Place)

"Eatin Big Time" - Tyler Childers - casting by Casey Campbell (dir: James Macke; prod: Adele Drive, More Avenue)

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BEST EDITING

"Not OK" - 5 Seconds of Summer - edited by Ally Gondeck, Nomad Edit (dir: Hannah Lux Davis; prod: London Alley)

"Luther" - Kendrick Lamar ft. SZA - edited by Kat Webber, Sunset Edit (dir: Karena Evans; prod: Fela)

"Sports Car" - Tate McRae - edited by William Town, Modern Post (dir: Bardia Zeinali; prod: Anonymous Content)

"A Plea" - Flea - edited by Sid Williams, Cabin Edit (dir: Clara Balzary; prod: First Matter)

"Tears" - Sabrina Carpenter - edited by Sofia Kerpan, Modern Post (dir: Bardia Zeinali; prod: freenioy, Anonymous Content)

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

"Supernatural" - Ariana Grande - visual effects by Mathematic (dir: Christian Breslauer; prod: London Alley, Lucky Bastards)

"Luther" - Kendrick Lamar ft. SZA - visual effects by Sunset Edit (dir: Karena Evans; prod: Fela)

"Lose my Mind" - Don Toliver x Doja Cat - visual effects by Mathematic (dir: Christian Breslauer; prod: London Alley, Lucky Bastards)

"Time" - Yoga Lin x Ng KiPin - visual effects by Fukupoly, Strobolights (dir: Yashuiro Arafune)

"Shoot" - Yamê - visual effects by Elliot Ducroy (dir: King She; prod: Henry)

BEST ANIMATION

"Give Me Love" - George Harrison - animation by Akash Jones, Nikolas Radulovich, Edwin Alvarenga, Colin Lepper, Abbey Collings (dir: Finn Wolfhard; prod: Tyedown Pictures)

"Burn" - Izzy Spears - animation by ZheeShee (dir: Ataka; prod: Henry)

"FUTW" - LISA - animation by Jaime Restepo (dir: Christian Breslauer; prod: London Alley, Lucky Bastards)

"REQUIN" - Lil Supa & Benjamin Epps - animation by Nicholas Cravedi (dir: Daniel Alerpnia; prod: Always Busy)

"Sideways" - Daffo - animation by Anne Douris (dir: Anne Douris; prod: Fuzz Boy Inc)

BEST COLOR GRADING

"High Fashion" - Addison Rae - color by Myles Bevan (dir: Mitch Ryan; prod: Cadence Films)

"NuevaYoL" - Bad Bunny - color by Dante Pasquinelli (dir: Renell Medrano; prod: Virgin Soil Pictures)

"Ripple" - Good Neighbours - color by Joseph Bicknell (dir: Alex Lockett; prod: Ferago Projects)

"Silver Lining" - Laufey - color by Myles Bevan (dir: Jason Lester; prod: Ted & Jane)

"Loser" - Tame Impala - color by Connor Bailey (dir: Sam Kristofski; prod: Screens, Iconoclast & GoodWorld Creative)

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CINEMA STYLE

BEST CONCEPT

"Berghain" - Rosalía ft. Björk & Yves Tumor - directed by Nicolás Méndez (prod: CANADA)

"The Birds Don’t Sing" - Clipse, John Legend, Voices of Fire, Pusha T & Malice - directed by Brendan O’Connor (prod: Shotclock)

"Psycho Killer" - Talking Heads - directed by Mike Mills (prod: MJZ)

"3AM" - Loe Shimmy ft. Don Toliver - directed by Justice Silvera, Christian Breslauer (prod: Lucky Bastards)

"Whenever" - Megan Thee Stallion - directed by Zav Dov Weisel (prod: Pulse Films)

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BEST NARRATIVE

"Denial Is A River" - Doechii - directed by James Mackel & Carlos Acosta (prod: Lotumn)

"Past Won’t Leave My Bed" - Joji - directed by Ethan Eng

"Is It A Crime" - Mariah & The Scientist - directed by Claire Bishara (prod: Lotumn)

"Watch Me Go" - Lord Huron - directed by Jackie Zhou (prod: exgirlfriend)

"Psycho Killer" - Talking Heads - directed by Mike Mills (prod: MJZ)

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BEST COMEDY

"Sue Me" - Audrey Hobert - directed by Audrey Hobert

"London Bridge" - Fergie x Too Much - directed by Mia Barnes (prod: RadicalMedia)

"Bandaids" - Katy Perry - directed by Christian Breslauer (prod: London Alley)

"Love Myself" - Jeff Hilliard - directed by Jeff Hilliard

"Eatin Big Time" - Tyler Childers - directed by James Mackel (prod: Adele Drive, More Avenue)

BEST ACTION

"Catch Me" - Apashe - directed by Adrian Villagomez (prod: Fela)

"Drive" - Ed Sheeran - directed by Chris Villa (prod: London Alley)

"Stranger" - Doja Cat - directed by Dave Meyers (prod: freenjoy)

"Time" - Yoga Lin x Ng KiPin - directed by Yashuiro Arafune

"Supernatural" - Ariana Grande - directed by Christian Breslauer (prod: London Alley, Lucky Bastards)

BEST SCI-FI / THRILLER / HORROR

"Left For Good" - Bad Omens - directed by Nico & Noah Sebastian (prod: The Machine Shop)

"Human" - Brandi Carlilse - directed by Floria Sigismondi (prod: Scheme Engine)

"Leeches" - Melanie Martinez - directed by Melanie Martinez (prod: Dojohouse)

"Tears" - Sabrina Carpenter - directed by Bardia Zeinali (prod: freenjoy, Anonymous Content)

"Cannibalism!" - Slayyyter - directed by Slayyyter (prod: TRESCO)​

BEST LIVE PERFORMANCE

"Residuals" - Chris Brown - directed by Travis Colbert (prod: Projekt Studios)

"Survive" - Lewis Capaldi - directed by Charlie Sarsfield (prod: Untold Studios)

"Hotbox" - Lil Nas X - directed by Elias Talbot (prod: TRESCO)

"My Full Name" - Madison Cunningham - directed by Nick Steinhardt

The Weeknd - "Hurry Up Tomorrow" - directed by Trey Shults (prod: Virgin Soil Pictures)

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BEST ONLINE VIRALITY

"London Bridge" - Fergie x Too Much - directed by Mia Barnes (prod: RadicalMedia)

"Burning Blue" - Mariah & The Scientist - "directed by Claire Bishara (prod: Lotumn)

"Sally, When The Wine Runs Out" - Role Model - directed by Sweetiepie (prod: Typeface Studio)

"Tears" - Sabrina Carpenter - directed by Bardia Zeinali (prod: freenjoy x Anonymous Content)

"Sugar On My Tongue" - Tyler the Creator - directed by Tyler the Creator (prod: Happy Place)

BEST SHORT FORM VISUALIZER

"What Happened To The Streets?" - 21 Savage - directed by Pau Carreté (prod: CANADA)

"Vacancy" - Ari Lennox - directed by Alex Oh (prod: TreNative)

"Am I The Drama?" - Cardi B - directed by Jora Frantzis (prod: Artifact Content)

"Cut Hands" - Deftones - directed by Ed Carr

"Reruns" - Woven Hollow - directed by Sam Blakesberg & Van Wampler (prod: CinemaRaven)

BEST LOW BUDGET

"Cruisin To Self Soothe" - Ecca Vandal - directed by Ecca Vandal & Richie Buxton

"Au Pays Du Cocaine" - Geese - directed by Milo Hume (prod: Pulse Films)

"paper doll" - quinnie - directed by Alejandra Demers

"Wow" - Seb Torgus - directed by Sam Kfare (prod: Requim Studios, THUNK Productions)

"De Guerre" - spill tab - directed by Sweetiepie (prod: ANNO)

BEST SHOT ON PHONE

"A Stone Only Rolls Downhill" - OK Go - directed by Damian Kulash, Aaron Duffy, Miguel Espada

"Armament" - Luwi - directed by Akhabue Evans

"I Can’t Lose" - Jonas Brothers - directed by Anthony Mandler

"Let Loose" - Jackson Wang - directed by Anthony Mandler

"Cherry Cola" - Devon Again - directed by Justin Nguyen

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MUSIC GENRE

BEST POP

"Abracadabra" - Lady Gaga - directed by Bethany Vargas (prod: LoveSong Films)

"FUTW" - LISA - directed by Christian Breslauer (prod: London Alley, Lucky Bastards)

"12 to 12" - sombr - directed by Gus Black (prod: GBP)

"Tears" - Sabrina Carpenter - directed by Bardia Zeinali (prod: freenjoy, Anonymous Content)

"Revolving Door" - Tate McRae - directed by Aerin Moreno (prod: Radiance)

BEST RAP

"Whenever" - Megan the Stallion - directed by Zav Dov Weisel (prod: Pulse Films)

"The Birds Don’t Sing" - Clipse, John Legend, Voices of Fire, Pusha T & Malice - directed by Brendan O’Connor (prod: Shotclock)

"Beat A Bitch Up" - Alameda & Doechii - directed by Omar Jones (prod: TDE)

"March" - Glo Rilla - directed by Troy Roscoe (prod: UnderWonder)

"Lover Girl" - Megan thee Stallion - directed by Alred Marroquin (prod: SomeSuch)

BEST R&B

"Sugar On My Tongue" - Tyler, the Creator - directed by Tyler the Creator (prod: Happy Place)

"Bliss" - Tyla - directed by Director X (prod: UnderWonder)

"Cry For Me" - The Weeknd - directed by CLIQUA (prod: SomeSuch)

"Twenties" - Giveon - directed by Loris Russier (prod: Lotumn)

"FMT" - Summer Walker - directed by child. (prod: Agüita)

BEST COUNTRY

"Drift Away" - Orville Peck - directed by Tilly Robba & Steph Jowett (prod: Studio Antics)

"Eatin Big Time" - Tyler Childers - directed by James Mackel (prod: Adele Drive, More Avenue)

"Cold" - BigXThaPlug x Post Malone - directed by Jake Mckenna (prod: ShooterCo)

"Mean To Me" - Kashus Culpepper - directed by Lewis Cater (prod: Tuff)

"Stay Country Or Die Tryin" - Blake Shelton - directed by Adam Rothlein & Jennifer Ansell (prod: Tiny Terror Productions)

BEST ROCK

"The Contract" - Twenty One Pilots - directed by Frédéric De Pontcharra (prod: Wanda)

"Not OK" - 5 Seconds of Summer - directed by Hannah Lux Davis (prod: London Alley)

"Zombie" - Yungblud - directed by Charlie Sarsfield (prod: Untold Studios)

"Cruisin To Self Soothe" - Ecca Vandal - directed by Ecca Vandal & Richie Buxton

"For I Am Death / Life Evermore" - The Pretty Reckless - directed by Lewis Cater (prod: Tuff)

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BEST ALTERNATIVE

"back to friends" - sombr - directed by Gus Black (prod: GBP)

"Glum" - Hayley Williams - directed by AJ Gibboney & Zac Farro (prod: Creative Team Studios)

"Ripple" - Good Neighbours - directed by Alex Lockett (prod: Farago Projects)

"Psycho Killer" - Talking Heads - directed by Mike Mills (prod: MJZ)

"Nothing I Need" - Lord Huron - directed by Jackie Zhou

BEST INDIE

"Die Your Daughter" - Susannah Joffe - directed by Madeline Leary

"Au Pays Du Cocaine" - Geese - directed by Milo Hume (prod: Pulse Films)

"A Bug’s Life" - Sudan Archives - directed by Alexa Carrasco

"i thought i knew you better" - glittr - directed by David Helman (prod: Freenjoy)

"Pokemon" - Wet Leg - directed by Elliot Arndt (prod: Sura Productions)

BEST METAL

"Milk of the Madonna" - Deftones - directed by David Hoefs (prod: Bandiz)

"God Is A Weapon" - Falling in Reverse - directed by Jensen Noen (prod: Blesscode, UnderWonder)

"Left for Good" - Bad Omens - directed by Nico (prod: The Machine Shop)

"Dance, Kid Dance" - Shinedown - directed by Lewis Cater (prod: Tuff)

"Winona" - Deafheaven - directed by Nico & Noah Sebastian (prod: Pulse Films, Gold Theory Artists)

BEST ELECTRONIC & DANCE

"Catch Me" - Apashe - directed by Adrian Villagomez (prod: Fela)

"Dreamin’" - Dom Dolla ft. Daya - directed by Kyle Caulfield & Shevin Dissanayake

"Here All Night" - Demi Lovato - directed by Hannah Lux Davis (prod: London Alley)

"YOLO" - Horsegiirl - directed by Tsarina Merrin (prod: SomeSuch)

"Helium" - The Chainsmokers, Anna Sofia - directed by Alex Acy (prod: Bodeyco)

BEST LATIN

"Ivonny Bonita" - KAROL G - directed by Pedro Artola & Stillz

"NuevaYoL" - Bad Bunny - directed by Renell Medrano (prod: Virgin Soil Pictures)

"Pikito" - Ozuna, Beêle - directed by Raymi Paulus (prod: DRKT Studios)

"Da Me" - Bad Gyal - directed by Torso (prod: Division)

"Marik Ya!" - Mari La Carajita - directed by Stefania Chehade, Edwin Corona (prod: Marginal Studios, Casivache)

BEST INTERNATIONAL

"Shoot" - Yamê - directed by King She (prod: Henry)

"Sweet Danger" - Obongjayar - directed by Sophie Jones (Prod: Somesuch)

"Presso" - Dzsúdlo - directed by Viktor Horvath

"Sundiata" - Fuse ODG ft. Suli Breaks - directed by Christian Saint (Prod: New Saint Motion Picture)  

"Catch Me" - Apashe - directed by Adrian Villagomez (prod: Fela)

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OF THE YEAR HONORS

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MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR

"NuevaYoL" - Bad Bunny - directed by Renell Medrano (prod: Virgil Soil Pictures)

"The Birds Don’t Sing" - Clipse, John Legend, Voices of Fire, Pusha T & Malice - directed by Brendan O’Connor (prod: Shotclock)

"Denial Is A River" - Doechii - directed by James Mackel & Carlos Acosta (prod: Lotumn)

"Jealous Type" - Doja Cat - directed by Boni Mata (prod: freenjoy)

"Abracadabra" - Lady Gaga - directed by Bethany Vargas (prod: LoveSong Films)

"FUTW" - LISA - directed by Christian Breslauer (prod: London Alley, Lucky Bastards)

"Love" - OK Go - directed by Damian Kulash, Aaron Duffy, Miguel Espada

"12 to 12" - sombr - directed by Gus Black (prod: GBP)

"Tears" - Sabrina Carpenter - directed by Bardia Zeinali (prod: freenjoy, Anonymous Content)

"Revolving Door" - Tate McRae - directed by Aerin Moreno (prod: Radiance)

"Berghain" - Rosalía ft. Björk & Yves Tumor - directed by Nicolás Méndez (prod: CANADA)

DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Christian Breslauer

Renell Medrano

Gus Black

Loris Russier

JakeTheShooter

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BREAKOUT DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Luke Orlando

Justice Silvera

Jackie Zhou

BK Barone

Claire Bishara

CREATIVE OF THE YEAR

Clare Gillen

Lauren Dunn

Brett Alan Nelson

Sam Cahill

Nick Steinhardt

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR 

Collin Druz

Autumn Maschi 

Jason Baum

Lukas Lennon

Farah Idrees 

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EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

Luga Podesta, London Alley

Tara Sheree & Nathan Scherrer, freenjoy

Frank & Ivanna Borin, UnderWonder Content

Missy Galanida, Hound Content

Malcolm Duncan & Fabien Colas, Virgin Soil Pictures

PRODUCTION COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Freenjoy 

London Alley

UnderWonder

Lotumn

Hound Content 

Henry

POST-PRODUCTION COMPANY OF THE YEAR

Sunset Edit

Nomad Edit

FRENDER

Modern Post

The Machine Shop

EDITOR OF THE YEAR
William Town

Luis Caraza Peimbert

Ally Gondeck

Jacob Giessmann

Sofia Kerpan

DP OF THE YEAR

Neema Sadeghi

Joshua Zucker-Pluda

Powell Robinson

Brian Beckwith

Scott Siracusano

CHOREOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Robbie Blue

Sean Bankhead

Jasmine Badie

JaQuel Knight

Mandy Moore
 

PRODUCTION DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

Brittany Porter

Elizabet Puksto

Alex Delgado

NuCalifornia

Andrew Caso

STYLIST OF THE YEAR

Brett Alan Nelson

Orchid Satellite

Ariel Tinsey

Margarita Shekel

Lizzy Arroyo

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

Robert Blair II

Daniel Ben

Harry Guest

Kelo Thompson

Ryan Owens

COMMISSIONER OF THE YEAR

Sam Houston, RCA Records

Devin Sarno, Warner Records

Steven Gottlieb, Independent

Andrew Reid, Atlantic Records

Emily Simon, Republic Records