The Berlin Music Video Awards is an annual international festival held in Berlin, Germany^[1] to celebrate the art of music videos. The festival brings together music video enthusiasts, directors, producers, and musicians worldwide to showcase their work and network with other professionals.

The festival includes a variety of activities such as screenings of nominated music videos, fashion show, various workshops, DJ sets and live performances. Awards are given in a variety of categories, including Best Music Video, Best Director, and Best Cinematography.^[2]

The Berlin Music Video Awards provide a platform for emerging artists and established professionals to showcase their work and gain recognition for their cinematographic creativity and skills. The BMVA highlights that anyone can participate, and that quality, originality, and diversity are all valued.^[3]

Aviel Silook, the producer and manager, founded the Berlin Music Video Awards (BMVA) in 2013.^[4] The founder initiated the festival and award ceremony because the concept did not yet exist in Berlin.^[5] Initially, it was aimed to be local but in the first year of existence, it became international with participants from Europe and North America. More award categories have been added since then, and international recognition has grown.^[6][7][8][9]

In the past, the Berlin Music Video Awards have featured a diverse range of nominees and jury members. Some of the notable nominees have included music videos by artists such as ASAP Rocky,^[10] Rammstein^[11][12] and Little Big (band),^[13] as well as up-and-coming artists from around the world.^[14] The jury has included industry professionals from various backgrounds, including directors, producers, musicians, and journalists. The Berlin Music Video Awards continue to attract a wide range of talented nominees and industry professionals each year.^[15]

The BMVA is distinguished by a diverse lineup that includes low-budget productions, newcomers, and internationally recognized artists. As a result, it highlights the state of the art in the current music video industry and recognizes outstanding productions.^[16]

Every year, the BMVA takes place over four days in May/June. The nominees and awardees of the various music video categories are presented during the ceremony, and the winners of each category are announced and awarded.^[21] Furthermore, the show also consists of onstage live performances from renowned bands and musicians, like Little Big (band), Vitalic, and members of The Prodigy. The festival is usually held in one of Berlin's popular clubs, such as Club GRETCHEN (2019/2018)^[22] or Nuke Club (2017).^[23] After-show parties are organised in connection with the award ceremony.^[24]

In the years 2020^[25] and 2021,^[26] the award ceremony took place digitally as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic. The show was recorded at the KitKat Club^[27](2020) and Alex Berlin^[28][29] (2021), who had been cooperating with the BMVA since its early years. In 2020/21, the hosts were Alexandrine Yetundey ^[30] and David Hailey.^[31]

After two years of online editions, the Berlin Music Video Awards celebrated its 10th anniversary from June 8 to June 11 (2022) in Club Gretchen.^[32]

Music Videos are awarded in the following categories at the BMVA:^[33]

1. Best Music Video
2. Best Animation
3. Best Art Director
4. Best Cinematography
5. Best Editor
6. Best Concept
7. Best Director
8. Best Experimental
9. Best Low Budget
10. Best Narrative
11. Best Performer
12. Best Production Company
13. Best Song
14. Best Visual Effects
15. Most Bizarre
16. Most Trashy

First-place winners in all categories receive a BMVA trophy, and the winner of the Best Music Video category receives a cash prize as well.^[34]

The independent jury members are experts in their fields of the (music) video industry or previous awardees.^[35] Some of the jury members over the years have been Cheng-Hsu Chung,^[36] Alexander Dydyna ^[37] and Federico Abib.^[38]

• Conference at BMVA 2017
• Outdoor area at the BMVA 2019
• Cozy Market at the BMVA 2017
• Outside area at the BMVA 2016
• Little Big performing at the BMVA 2016
• Kompromat performing at the BMVA 2019
• The Blaze performing at the BMVA 2014
• Ceremony at the BMVA 2017
• Trophy Best Music Video 2018