UK Music Video Awards 2023: Nominations Revealed Ahead of Awards Ceremony

It’s a tie for the top in this year’s UK Music Video Awards shortlists with six nominations apiece for Harry Styles, and breakthrough US artist, Mette. Harry wins two spots in the Best UK Pop Video category for his videos for ‘Music For a Sushi Restaurant’ and ‘Satellite’, where he’ll be attempting to fight off competition from Labrinth, Lewis Capaldi, Raye and Sam Smith. Meanwhile, newcomer to the UKMVAs, Mette (American singer, actor and dancer Mette Towley) launches herself into the spotlight with two videos on the Best International Pop Video list – ‘Mama’s Eyes’ and ‘Van Gogh’ – where she takes on videos by Christina Aguilera, Tove Lo, BTS star Jung Kook and Priya Ragu. 

Harry Styles’ ‘Music For A Sushi Restaurant’ wins the most nominations for a single video in the 2023 shortlist with five mentions. Little Simz follows close behind with four nominations for her video ‘Gorilla’, helmed by renowned US director, Dave Meyers and is contending to retain her title for the Best UK Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Video. She faces competition in that category from AntsLive, J Hus, Jords, Loyle Carner and Stormzy. Meanwhile, US singer & rapper Audrey Nuna also notches up four nominations for her video, ‘Locket’, the creative brainchild of the late Valentin Petit, a Best Director nominee from 2022 who tragically died earlier this year, alongside The Blaze’s ‘Madly – The Poem’ directed by the artists, whose work has also previously been honoured at the ceremony. 

Harry Styles and Little Simz head a list of British artists which includes Stormzy, James Blake, The 1975, The Chemical Brothers, Jungle, Royal Blood, Labrinth, Rudimental, Gorillaz, Jords, Hak Baker and AntsLive who have won multiple nominations for their visual projects at this year’s UK Music Video Awards, in the shortlists announced on September 27th, demonstrating that creativity in their videos remains an essential part of their art. 

International artists Kendrick Lamar, Doja Cat, The Hives, Yves Tumor, The Blaze, Troye Sivan, Dominique Fils-Aimé and Fatoumata Diawara also receive multiple mentions alongside Mette and Audrey Nuna in this year’s list of nominations for over 30 awards, celebrating the best work in music videos in the UK and around the world, and the creative and technical talent behind them.

The winners at this year’s UKMVAs – the premier global awards programme for music video creativity – will be announced at the awards ceremony which takes place at Magazine London, a state-of-the-art events venue near The O2 in North Greenwich, on October 26th, on what is always a significant night in the calendar for the music video-making community.  

In a tough year for global filmmaking, the nominations at this year’s UKMVAs reflect the enduring creativity in music video production, with both previously nominated directors and new talent breaking into the shortlist, as well as spotlighting the standout creative work in other filmmaking departments, including Cinematography, Colour grading, Production Design, Choreography, Styling, Editing,  Animation and Visual Effects. 

Among the directors on this year’s list, Aube Perrie, Camille Summers-Valli and Charlie di Placido score multiple mentions in the video categories. Frenchman Aube Perrie, the director behind Harry Styles’ ‘Music For a Sushi Restaurant’ and ‘Satellite’, also picks up a nomination for The Hives’ ‘Bogus Operandi’ in the Best International Rock Video category. French-Australian director Camille Summers Valli’s collaboration with Mette sees her notch up three nominations in the video categories, two in the International Pop category and one for Best Performance in a Video. British director Charlie di Placido sees his long-term collaboration with Jungle land him two directing nominations for his latest set of videos for the band, one for ‘Back on 74’ in the Best Dance/Electronic Video – UK category and one for Best Special Visual Project for the visual album ‘Volcano’. All three are in contention for the Best Director award, up against the 2021 and 2022 winner Tanu Muino, US-based directing duo rubberband and French auteurs, The Blaze. 

In the Best New Director category, AboveGround, Aidan Zamiri, Tom Emmerson, Hugh Mulhern, Kassandra Powell and Uncanny will contend for the title. In addition, young British director, Jay Green, wins three nominations for his work across the Newcomer categories, with videos for Kam-bu. Sans Soucis and Everyone You Know. His tally is matched by another up-and-coming British directing talent, Tyrus in the Newcomer categories with films for Artyn, Kamal and Louis Culture. 

This year’s shortlist for the Best Performance in a Video category, designed to spotlight outstanding on-camera performances by artists, actors and dancers in music videos, this year features mesmerising turns by AntsLive, Bakar, Little Simz., Mette and Truman, as well as the key role for young actor Riley Jacobs in The Blaze’s video for ‘Madly – The Poem’. 

The Live Video category shortlist this year features an eclectic mix of British artists, with Berwyn, Jeshi, Gerry Cinnamon, The 1975, Last Dinner Party and Young Fathers in contention for the trophy. The. Special Visual Projects category, which celebrates film projects which extend beyond the boundaries of primary music videos, includes projects by Danish trio 802 and hotly-tipped UK artist TSHA, up against heavyweights Little Simz, Gorillaz, Kendrick Lamar and Jungle.  

Since its inception in 2008, the UKMVAs has grown into the leading global awards programme for music video creativity, the most important annual event in the calendar for the world of music video production. The global reach of the competition saw entries from 30 different territories. Tickets for the awards show at Magazine, London on October 26th are on sale now here. 

Best Pop Video – UK in association with Cinelab Film & Digital 

Raye ft 070 Shake - Escapism 

Lewis Capaldi - Forget Me 

Sam Smith - I'm Not Here To Make Friends 

Labrinth - Kill For Your Love 

Harry Styles - Music For A Sushi Restaurant  

Harry Styles - Satellite

Best Dance / Electronic Video - UK 

Jungle - Back on 74 

James Blake - Big Hammer

Rudimental, Charlotte Plank & Vibe Chemistry - Dancing Is Healing  

London Grammar ft CamelPhat - Higher  

The Chemical Brothers ft Halo Maud - Live Again 

Riton - Sugar 

Best R&B / Soul Video - UK 

Joesef - Just Come Home With Me Tonight 

Ezra Collective ft Kojey Radical - No Confusion 

Grace Carter - Pick Your Tears Up 

Ama Lou - Silence  

Stormzy ft Raye - The Weekend 

Jorja Smith - Try Me 

Best Rock Video - UK 

Shame - Fingers of Steel  

Bring Me The Horizon - LosT 

Elephant Kind - Love As 

Royal Blood - Pull Me Through 

Squid - Swing (In a Dream) 

Squid - The Blades 

Best Alternative Video - UK 

Bakar - Alive! 

Hak Baker - Doolally 

Tiberius b - HHB 

Young Fathers - I Saw 

L.A. Priest - It's You 

Kokoroko - Rapt 

Best Hip Hop / Grime / Rap Video - UK 

Little Simz - Gorilla 

J Hus - It's Crazy 

Stormzy - Mel Made Me Do it 

Jords - Mobay / Stay Close 

Loyle Carner - Nobody Knows (Ladas Road) 

AntsLive - Number One Candidate  

Best Pop Video - International 

Priya Ragu - Adalam Va 

Christina Aguilera - Beautiful (2022 Version) 

Tove Lo - Borderline 

Mette - Mama's Eyes 

Jung Kook ft Latto - Seven 

Mette - Van Gogh 

Best Dance / Electronic Video - International 

Macgray - Backbone 

The Blaze - Madly - The Poem 

Troye Sivan - Rush 

Paul Kalkbrenner - Schwer 

Salvatore Ganacci - Sexy Narkoman / Your Mother 

Thom Draft - Tense

Best R&B / Soul Video - International 

Kelela - Enough For Love 

Steve Lacy - Helmet 

SZA - Kill Bill 

Dominique Fils-Aimé - My Mind At Ease 

Amaru - Not Different 

Lil Yachty - Say Something 

Best Rock Video - International 

Grian Chatten - All of the People 

The Hives - Bogus Operandi 

Stolen Nova - Glue 

Cari Cari - My Grandma Says We Have No Future 

Paramore - Running Out of Time 

Falling In Reverse - Watch The World Burn 

Best Alternative Video - International 

070 Shake - Black Dress 

Paris Texas - Bulletman 

Yves Tumor - Echolalia 

Tshegue - MAIS 

Dominic Fike - Mama's Boy 

Son Lux - Undertow 

Best Hip Hop / Grime / Rap Video - International 

Doja Cat - Attention 

Kendrick Lamar - Count Me Out 

Benjamin Earl Turner- Headspace 

Audrey Nuna - Locket 

Travis Scott - Sirens 

Biji - Zigidi 

Best Pop Video - Newcomer 

Kamal - Freeflow 

Beabadoobee - Glue Song 

Virgin Miri - Kill Me 

Ariete - Mare di guai  

Sila Lua - Rompe 

Grentperez - Us Without Me 

Best Dance / Electronic Video - Newcomer 

DJ Seinfeld ft Confidence Man - Now U Do 

Everyone You Know - Paper Aeroplanes 

Riton ft Soaky Siren - Sugar 

Ghost Gun - Venom 

Fakear - Voyager 

Mura Masa - Whenever I Want 

Best R&B / Soul Video - Newcomer 

George - Forever 

Aaron Taylor - Have a Nice Day 

Sans Soucis - I Know Your Present

Hendrix Harris - It's Not You 

Léa Sen - Luv Him 

Konyikeh - Teenage Dreams 

Best Rock Video - Newcomer 

Heartworms - 24 Hours 

Aliment - Com Espines 

Stone - I Gotta Feeling 

Stone - Left Right Forward 

L Devine - Push It Down 

The Academic - Pushing Up Daisies 

Best Alternative Video - Newcomer 

Anna B Savage - in|FLUX 

Patrick Wolfe - Nowhere Game  

Entely - Prosa 

Hak Baker - Telephones 4 Eyes 

Tsunaina - Tenderer 

dné - Traps In My Feed 

Best Hip Hop / Grime / Rap Video - Newcomer 

Ayrtn - 2 Da Max 

Kam-bu - Eton Mess 

Louis Culture - Grime 

Big Heath - Let's Go 

Depzman - Life Cut Short 

Kibo - Mr Lamborghini Deathslide 

Best Live Video 

Jeshi - Bad Day at the Office (live film) 

The 1975 - Being Funny In A Foreign Language (Official Live Performance) 

Gerry Cinnamon - Canter (Live at Hampden Park) 

Young Fathers - I Saw, Rice, Geronimo 

Berwyn - Path to Satisfaction (live at Niceness)  

Last Dinner Party - Sinner  

Best Special Visual Project 

802 - A Heavy Metal Bedtime Story 

Gorillaz - Gorillaz Presents… Skinny Ape 

Little Simz - No Thank You 

TSHA - Sister 

Jungle - Volcano 

Kendrick Lamar - We Cry Together  

Best Performance in a Video 

Bakar - Alive! 

Truman - Charley Boy 

Little Simz - Gorilla 

The Blaze - Madly - The Poem 

Mette - Mama's eyes 

AntsLive - Number One Candidate  

Best Production Design in a Video

Yves Tumor - Echolalia 

Rosalía, Romeo Santos - El Pañuelo 

Little Simz - Gorilla 

Jords - Mobay / Stay Close 

Harry Styles - Music For A Sushi Restaurant  

Fatoumata Diawara ft Damon Albarn - Nsera 

Best Choreography in a Video 

Channel Tres - 6AM 

Jungle - Back on 74 

The 1975 - I'm In Love With You 

Mette - Mama's Eyes 

Dominique Fils-Aimé - My Mind At Ease 

Mette - Van Gogh 

Best Styling in a Video in association with i-D 

Yves Tumor - Echolalia 

Audrey Nuna - Locket 

The Blaze - Madly - The Poem 

Jords - Mobay / Stay Close 

Fatoumata Diawara ft Damon Albarn - Nsera 

Troye Sivan - Rush 

Best Cinematography in a Video  

The Hives - Bogus Operandi 

Little Simz - Gorilla 

Josman - Intro 

The Blaze - Madly - The Poem 

Harry Styles - Music For A Sushi Restaurant  

AntsLive - Number One Candidate  

Best Colour Grading in a Video in association with Studio RM 

Rudimental, Charlotte Plank & Vibe Chemistry - Dancing Is Healing 

Stolen Nova - Glue 

Hendrix Harris - It's Not You 

Katie Melua - Love and Money 

Harry Styles - Music For A Sushi Restaurant 

Royal Blood - Pull Me Through 

Best Editing in a Video 

Doja Cat - Attention 

James Blake - Big Hammer 

The Hives - Bogus Operandi 

Audrey Nuna - Locket 

Mette - Mama's Eyes 

Harry Styles - Music For A Sushi Restaurant  

Best Visual Effects in a Video 

Skiifall - 2 Charming 

Hak Baker - Doolally 

Labrinth - Kill For Your Love 

The Chemical Brothers ft Halo Maud - Live Again 

Audrey Nuna - Locket

Stormzy ft Fredo - Toxic Trait 

Best Animation in a Video 

Hot Chip - Eleanor 

Daft Punk - Infinity Repeating (2013 Demo) 

des hume ft (juicelover) - onetwostep  

Gorillaz - Silent Running 

Ashnikko - Worms 

Muse - You Make Me Feel Like It's Halloween 

Best Director in association with Electric Theatre Collective 

Aube Perrie 

Camille Summers-Valli 

Charlie Di Placido 

rubberband. 

Tanu Muino 

The Blaze 

Best New Director in association with LEAP 

AboveGround 

Aidan Zamiri 

Hugh Mulhern 

Kassandra Powell 

Tom Emmerson 

UNCANNY 

Best Director of Photography  

Adam Newport-Berra 

Henry Gill 

Jake Gabbay 

Natasha Duursma 

Nikita Kuzmenko 

Spike Morris 

Best Producer in association with WPA UK 

Danny Herman 

Elizabeth Doonan 

Fred Bonham Carter 

Maëva Tenneroni 

Rik Green 

Theo Hue Williams 

Best Production Company in association with Kodak 

CANADA 

Friend London 

Iconoclast 

Object & Animal 

Pulse Films 

Smuggler 

Best Commissioner 

Erin Corrian-Alexis  

Faye Purcell

John Moule  

Kat Cattaneo 

Kim Jarrett 

Michael Lewin 

Best Agent 

Alexa Haywood, FreeAgent 

André Reid-McKinley, Somesuch 

Claire Stubbs & Connie Meade, Mouthpiece 

Lee Fairweather, Leethal Reppin 

Sam Davey & Polly Millner, OB42 

Sarah Boardman, Joceline Gabriel & Camille Semprez, Hands