From June 12th to 14th, Berlin’s Club Gretchen became the beating heart of the global music video scene, hosting this year’s electrifying edition of the Berlin Music Video Awards. Over three packed days, the venue buzzed with creativity, drawing together filmmakers, musicians, visual artists, and fans from across continents for a celebration of innovation in visual storytelling.
The event unfolded through a rich mix of screenings, genre-defying live acts, and a high-energy awards ceremony that honored the year’s most daring and imaginative works. From sleek, high-production pieces to underground experimental gems, the program reflected the full spectrum of music video artistry. Each evening pulsed with live performances that blended cultural influences and musical styles, giving the festival a distinctly international edge.
Producer Aviel Silook emphasizes that the BMVA’s evolution is driven by a focus on quality rather than expansion. “The festival has been full since its very first edition,” he explains, “but now we’re refining the guest list year by year. Our aim is to bring the biggest creative voices in the industry to see this as a must-attend event.”.
And the Winners Are…
Following three electrifying nights packed with daring visuals, genre-bending acts, and unfiltered creative expression, Berlin Music Video Awards 2025 wrapped up in true boundary-pushing fashion. This year’s honorees spanned the spectrum, from gritty, DIY brilliance to sleek, cinematic epics, proving once again that music video is an art form in constant evolution.
These are the boundary-breaking visuals that earned top honors:
The big winner of the Berlin Music Video Awards is…
Cero Ismael – DRIVING AROUND LOOKING FOR UNKNOWN
DRIVING ROUND LOOKING FOR UNKNOWN
directed by Folkert Verdoorn & Simon Becks
Watch an interview with the big winner here: Interview with Winners of Best Music Video at Berlin Music Video Awards 2025
Taking home the Best Music Video Award that was presented on the third day of the festival!
Cero Ismael’s DRIVING AROUND LOOKING FOR UNKNOWN unfolds like a nocturnal confession, steeped in introspection and emotional weight. The track blends minimalist production with soft, expressive vocals, evoking the feeling of cruising through empty streets while chasing clarity. It’s not just a song about being lost it’s about the quiet urgency of wanting to feel something real in the emptiness.
Day 1 – June 12
Best Animation: feelslikeimfallinginlove by Coldplay
Coldplay ‚feelslikeimfallinginlove‘
directed by Raman Djafari
Best Performer: JellyKet by Dogshow
performed by Rosie Terry Toogood
Best VFX: FUTURAMA 3 by Quebonafide
animated by Andrzej Dragan, Patryk Gadaszewski, pwee3000
Best Cinematography: She’s Gone, Dance On by Disclosure
Disclosure – She’s Gone, Dance On (Official Video)
with Jeff Bierman as Director of photography
Best Art Director: WHAT IF I TOLD YOU TO by Wax Wings, Miha, Lucille Croft
WAX WINGS, MIHA, LUCILLE CROFT – WHAT IF I TOLD YOU TO (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
directed by William Kennedy
Day 2 – June 13
Best Editor: Eusexua by FKA twigs
edited by Charlie Von Rotberg
Most Bizarre: Fresh Blood, Fresh Pussy by Witch Club Satan
Witch Club Satan – Fresh Blood, Fresh Pussy (Official Music Video)
directed by Stian Andersen
Best Experimental: Half a Sadday Saving Time by Mola Oddity
directed by Laurent Nathan Grey + Baku Hashimoto
Most Trashy: UNTZ UNTZ by Tommy Cash
TOMMY CASH – UNTZ UNTZ (censored version)
directed by Alina Pasok & Tommy Cash
Best AI: Right Angle
directed by Jordan Le Galeze
Best Low Budget: Dive by Corvad
directed by Solomon
Day 3 – June 14
Best Narrative: Patience (Sabali) by DJ Snake x Amadou et Mariam
directed by Valentin Guiod
produced by Birth
Best Director: Driving Around Looking for Unknown by Cero Ismael
DRIVING ROUND LOOKING FOR UNKNOWN
directed by Folkert Verdoorn & Simon Becks
Best Concept: Show Me the Sky by Tommy Holohan & Megra
directed by Will Wightman
Best Song: Soul Mantra by Magnet Brain
Magnet Brain – Soul Mantra (Official Video)
directed by Roma Shaglanov
Best Production Company: Ocurens
When Legends Step In
This year’s Berlin Music Video Awards drew an impressive roster of creative talent, with a number of high-profile guests adding star power to the event’s already electric atmosphere. Among those present was Eva Habermann [@eva_habermann], a multifaceted talent known for her work as an artist, producer, director, and singer, who took part in the Silver Screening with her project Lioness. Also featured in the Silver Screening was Miss Velvet [@miss_velvet], the bold and genre-bending artist behind Tripty, and Magdalena Balwierczak Boduch [@lejdimadlenowe], a Polish director and artist whose gripping work Psychofanka made a powerful impression.
Acclaimed Turkish musician Gaye Su Akyol [@gayesuakyol] appeared with Yarın Yokmuş Gibi, her collaboration with the band Lalalar, bringing her signature fusion of psychedelia and Anatolian rock to the screen. The festival also welcomed Jon Chema [@jchema], cinematographer for the nominated video On My Mama by Victoria Monét, whose presence highlighted the event’s growing appeal among top-tier industry professionals.
We’ve also got to shout out some of the awesome partners who brought extra fun to BMVA 2025. On kinky day, Event Station’s AI photo booth was a total hit, people couldn’t get enough of snapping futuristic pics. Faxe kept everyone cool and happy with their tasty beers and drinks flowing all weekend long. And let’s not forget Nomoo, who kicked things off at the pool party with their delicious plant-based ice cream, perfect for that sunny first day and the other two that followed. The vibes were great, and festival-goers loved every bit of it.
Insights from Behind the Scenes
Adrian Villagomez
The visionary director of Catch Me by Apashe, which took third place in the Best Director category at BMVA 2025, shared some reflections on his career and creative approach.
How many music videos have you done so far? When was the first one?
I’ve done a little over 30 music videos so far. The first one I directed was back in 2015, we had no budget, but we were taking ourselves really seriously. I then did some here and there, but it’s really when the pandemic hit that I turned myself into a full-time director.
What is the secret to keeping the viewer watching the video to the end?
Surprise and tension. Don’t give away everything too early. Create a world with enough detail and movement that the viewer feels like something might shift at any moment. And if you can make them feel something, even discomfort, they’ll stay with you.
What was the biggest mistake you’ve made in your career?
Accept music videos because of a good budget or a good pay, despite the fact that I didn’t resonate with the music. It is a mistake I will never do again.
CJ Bortone
The singer in the band OK Go, CJ Bortone, who along with his bandmates took second place in the Best Experimental category at BMVA 2025 for A Stone Only Rolls Downhill. He directed the video himself and reflected on the creative collaboration and key choices that shaped both the project and his wider career.
How many people worked on your nominated video? Who played a key role in it?
The vast majority of the work was done by a group of five: me (director & singer in the band), Chris Buongiorno (co-director), Justin Clare (pre-viz editor and media manager), Andy Ross (guitarist in the band), and Tim Nordwind (bassist in the band). We spent roughly 3 months playing, testing, and trying out ideas in my home studio.
The other key members were our producer, Caroline Kousidonis, our line producer Omar Dagan, our hand-dance choreographer Phillip Chbeeb, and our art department lead T. Hunter McCann. We had a small crew (2 grip, 1 electric, 1 PA, 4 extra hand dancers) for the shoot.
How long did it take to make it? What was the process?
Roughly 3 months of planning, and then 3 shoots: 1 for 6 days to get the bulk of the material that would go on the phones, and then 2 one-day shoots to get the nested phone-within-a-phone final shots.
What was the key turning point of your career, or the smartest move you’ve made?
I know the point here is to share information relevant to other directors… Obviously my career is unusual, since I’m first and foremost in a band, and the videos I direct are a component of that.
The key turning point was our treadmill video for “Here It Goes Again,” and the smartest move we made was to double down on making elaborate music videos and investing tons of time and energy into the chain reaction machine video for “This Too Shall Pass.” In short, the videos are the smartest move.
Missed out or just can’t get enough? These BMVA highlights are your ticket back to the unforgettable buzz!
And… scene.
With full hearts, fresh ink, and minds buzzing with inspiration, this year’s celebration was a wild ride through everything bold, strange, and spectacular. From unforgettable visuals to impromptu dance floor moments, it reminded us exactly why this gathering matters.
See you next year… same energy, new visions.
Photos by:
– Jonas Ghebrezgiabiher @jonasamazonas030
– Tamu @tamu.fotos
– Valentina @angelic_antagonist6
– Simon Timm @holy_smokes.jpeg
– José
– Dorota Dudziak @doridudziak
– Christian Holdack @Otto Mendelsson
– Anastasiia Verbytska @a_nastacie
and then