Bella, Drag performer, dancer and martial artist, Berlin
“Shakira’s ‘She Wolf’ was my queer awakening. I remember watching her dance in the red cave and inside the cage, and thinking, ‘I want to be that when I grow up’. At first, I thought I might be in love with her, but I later realised I wanted to be her. That video had a huge impact on me.”
Xan, Singer, songwriter and producer, Manipur
“Music is all about connection. We write songs, but through music videos we can also communicate through movement, visuals and facial expressions. In my song ‘Dance It All’, I created the choreography myself and used my expressions to convey the message of never giving up, no matter how difficult life becomes.”
Roderick Bradford Jr, Actor in BMVA-nominated video, New York
“I’m very excited that our video was nominated. It tells the story of how fame isn’t always what it’s made out to be. We wanted to shed light on the popular idea that once people become famous, everything is good, but that’s not always the case. We felt it was an important story to tell.”
Uzoh, BMVA performer and musician, Hamburg
“Nowadays, with TikTok and short-form content, many people only focus on brief clips and visual snippets. I think that’s a shame because if you really want to understand an artist and be inspired by their work, you should take the time to watch a full music video. It gives you a much deeper connection to the music and the story behind it.”
Jerry Aquino, BMVA nominee and director, USA
“Being nominated in Berlin and experiencing the culture, the artists and the atmosphere here is incredible. I feel like I’ve already won – the nomination itself feels like a victory.”
Broken INT, Nominee and director, Stockholm
“The music video is a hyperbolic representation of a friend of mine who struggles to stay away from temptation. It portrays an endless pit that keeps dragging her down. The video explores the challenge of maintaining a normal lifestyle while being constantly tempted by hedonism and self-destructive tendencies.”
Carina Crasher, Drag queen and actress, Germany
“As someone who writes music myself, I think music videos help complete the picture and tell the full story behind a song. When people only hear a song on the radio, some of that meaning can get lost. A music video adds another layer that helps communicate the artist’s vision.”
Luna, Best Emerging Artist winner, UK
“Winning Best Emerging Artist was a wonderful surprise. What makes it especially meaningful is that it feels like recognition for my overall artistic vision, not just for a single music video. This award encourages me to keep going, stay on my path and continue expanding the world of fairy pop that I’m creating. I’m incredibly happy and grateful.”
Madame Von Fatale, BMVA performer and burlesque artist, Berlin
“Especially with the rise of AI, I think music videos remain one of the most human forms of artistic expression. Music videos are a unique artistic medium and I believe they should continue to exist and thrive.”
Myraam, BMVA host and actor, Gothenburg
“The energy from the audience, the team and all the artists has been incredible. Everyone has been so welcoming and enthusiastic. I’ve loved every moment of it. Growing up, I listened to a lot of synth-pop, including artists like Depeche Mode and Kraftwerk, and their visual worlds definitely influenced the way I experience music and art today.”
Hannah Stamina, BMVA performer and artist, Belgium
“There are many artists who inspire me. Interestingly, my current artistic vision wasn’t inspired by a specific artist but came to me in a dream. However, one artist who has been a major inspiration is Agnes from Sweden. She was nominated this year for Best Cinematography, and her work continues to inspire me creatively.”
Jedy Deady, BMVA nominee and musician, Russia
“My recent work was heavily inspired by the anime Death Note. I’m inspired by its atmosphere, characters and visual style. I like drawing inspiration from different sources and transforming them into something original rather than simply copying them.”
Gabriella Neves, Portugal and Freja Sande, Denmark & Norway, BMVA hosts
“This is my second year hosting, and it never gets old. It’s such a pleasure to celebrate music, art and creativity together with so many talented people.” – Gabriella
“One of my favourite music videos of all time is ‘Lonely Boy’ by The Black Keys. The story I heard is that the video was originally just an audition tape from someone who wanted to appear in the actual music video and they ended up using the audition footage instead. It’s simply one guy dancing in a parking lot for the entire song with no cuts, no edits and no special effects.” – Freja
Julia, BMVA performer and director, Brazil
“For me, music videos are just as important as the music itself. They’re their own art form. Sometimes when I’m writing a song, I’m already imagining the visuals and the story that will accompany it. Whether it’s a traditional music video or short-form content, strong visuals help bring music to life and connect with audiences.”
Photos by Makar Artemev
