PRISM INTERNATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORS TO WATCH IN 2022
CHOSEN BY MUSIC VIDEO CURATORS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

Each March, creatives of all stripes gather for the acclaimed SXSW Film Festival program, which runs concurrently with the SXSW Conference, Music and Comedy Festivals. SXSW Film Festival Programmer Gabe Van Amburgh highlighted these directors-to-watch for 2022.

Since launching his career after winning OK Go's Music Video Challenge in 2013, he has only improved his craft and continues to wow audiences and still crafts videos that make you ask, 'how did they do that?'

nelsondecastro.com
@nelsonapdc

An Indian film director based in Mumbai, Misha Ghose's stunning video for Madame Gandhi was awarded the Jury Award for Best Music Video at the 2021 SXSW Film Festival. Working 15 years in the industry, Misha's incredible sense of timing in the edit and color have impressed upon the very best in the industry.

vimeo.com/mishaghose
@MISHAGHOSE

Jessie is certainly not new to the Music Video scene, having worked with Halsey and Chris Cornell in the past. But it's her continued collaboration with Julia Stone where you can literally track her progression and scope as a consistent and vital creator. Creating images and moments that stand out and leave an impression on the viewer.

jessiehilldirector.com
@jessiehill111

Vimeo is a video hosting, sharing, and services platform provider headquartered in New York City. Their Vimeo Staff Pick seal is a coveted credential for filmmakers all over the world. Meghan Oretsky, a member of the Vimeo Staff Pick curatorial team, shares this list of directors worth paying attention to in the year to come.

Incredibly imaginative, with wild and magical energy and ideas. French animation is absolutely on fire. I can't wait to see what these two create individually and as a team in the future!

jocelyncharlesblr.tumblr
roxanelumeret.com
@jocelyncharles1
@roxane.lumeret

Farhad has 4 Staff Picks for his work as a DP, but he earned his first badge as director for this absolutely beautiful music video about intergenerational trauma. If you're watching a film that Farhad worked on, it's likely incredibly poignant, powerful, and tender. He's definitely a new favorite and I'm so excited to see what he does next behind the camera.

FARHADGHADERI.COM
@farhadghaderi_

Jack's wonky 3D animated style is so unique and fun, it makes navigating his weird, detailed worlds feel like you're a little kid running through the tubes and slides of a playground again. I'm dying to see a VR piece from him!!!

jackwedge.com
@JACKASSWEDGE

The Buenos Aires Music Video Festival is the premier international music video event in Argentina, created to promote and award the best works each year with 33 professional categories, a renowned international jury and activities such as screenings, talks, master classes and workshops. Curator Juan LR Montes adds these great Argentinian directors to this year’s International list.

Belén Asad is a photographer and filmmaker; she has worked with well-known bands and artists in Argentina. Her documentary approach makes her work an authentic expression that  have earned her publications in magazines such as Rolling Stone. Belén has been a juror at the Buenos Aires Music Video Festival where she has also received several nominations in other editions.

belenasad.com
@BELENASAD

Kevin Zeta in a short time has made an impact with every music video he has made for artists from Argentina and Latin America. His eccentric vision generates a fresh approach for a new wave of pop culture. In 2020 he received an honorable mention from Ian Pons Jewell at the Buenos Aires Music Video Festival.

vimeo.com/kevinzeta
@ibupirac666

Laura Manson has a poetic eye in timeless and dreamlike music videos. She started as an art director and later as a filmmaker. Since 2020 she is the founder of the @FilmarMusica platform that promotes the work of music video makers in Argentina.

FILMAR MUSICA
@holamanson

PAMPA X KATO is a promising young duo of filmmakers whose breakthrough video "Viuda Negra" has shown an emerging and exciting future in the music video industry in Argentina.

@PAMPAXKATO

The UKMVAs encompasses a wide range of categories in music video and music film production and post-production, designed to recognise the creativity and artistry of British and international videos and films across music genres. Curators Louise Stevens and Nadya Jones suggested these artists for this year’s International list.

A Spanish director based in London and signed to Darkroom (Partizan) so we’re claiming him as one of ours! Nono’s passion for the craft of filmmaking shines through every frame of his work, and reminds us why we love the medium.

nono.film
@NONOAYUSO

Born in Thailand, but a graduate of Central St Martin’s in London, signed to Somesuch. I believe she’s half French, but again we’re claiming her as a UK director!

A clarity of vision communicated with captivating cinematography, Camille is a director whose work we always look forward to watching.

CAMILLESUMMERSVALLI.COM
@CAMILLE.SUMMERSVALLI

A French director, based between LA and Paris, but recently signed to Pulse Films in the UK. Playful but provocative, with a clear gift for story-telling, Aube Perrie is one of the most exciting discoveries for us this year.

PULSE FILMS
@aube_perrie

Born in Latvia, now based between LA and Berlin, and with multiple awards to his name already but consistently producing fantastic work and deserves to be recognised.

Another example of masterful and fearless filmmaking from Andzej Gavriss: the poignancy of this video had a huge impact on us.

andzejgavriss.com
@andzejgavriss

m-v-f awards is the annual competitive segment of the music video festival (São Paulo), dedicated to professionals and artists interested in promoting work in Brazil and abroad. Curator Lia Visotto shared work from 3 visionary directors making work in Brazil.

Raised in his parent’s video rental store in Brazil, Douglas Bernardt creates unique and beautiful imagery of substance as a director and cinematographer. Douglas has gone on to be celebrated for work with Masego, Gregory Porter, and Tom Misch. His short film for Baco Exu do Blues, ‘Bluesman’, was awarded the 2019 Cannes Lions Grand Prix for Entertainment for Music. His films have also been recognised by m-v-f- awards, D&AD, Clio Music, Young Director Award, Kinsale Sharks, Cameraimage and won Gold at Ciclope Latino.

vimeo.com/dougbernardt
@dougbernardt

Fernando Nogari is a visual artist and stage director. He completed his master's degree at the Film Factory in Sarajevo, under the guidance of Hungarian director Béla Tarr, where he took classes with filmmakers and artists such as Gus Van Sant, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Pedro Costa, Juliette Binoche, Cristian Mungiu and Gael Garcia Bernal. His work has already been enhanced at film festivals and channels such as NOWNESS, VICE and DAZED, and he has collaborated with institutions and artists such as Daniela Thomas, Instituto Moreira Salles, Bergmancenter and Museu da Imagem e do Som, m-v-f-`s long-time partner.

vimeo.com/fernandonogari
@fernando.nogari

Belle de Melo is a director of music videos and everything that provides context for telling and listening to stories. With great influence from the visual arts and from every poetic form of expression, her work seeks to connect the eyes of those who make with those who watch. She believes that the way of seeing things can really be a powerful tool for change and sees art as a bridge to communicate and transform the things around her. Enchanted by the history of her country, whenever possible she brings Brazil at the root of her work, with historical references to the construction of Brazilian art. Belle won "Best National Music Video" at m-v-f- awards 2019.

PORTFOLIO
@belledemelo

The Prism Prize is a national, juried award recognizing outstanding artistry in Canadian music videos, offering the largest cash prize in the world for music videos. Below, Prism founder Louis Calabro runs down 3 artists making incredible music video work.

One of the most interesting visual creators/pranksters working today, Pablo Rochat makes illustrations, commercials, and the occasional music video for Drake (Knife Talk, 2021). The genius in his visual humour shines through everything he touches; whether it’s his large-scale LED cat art, or collage films for Balenciaga, Rochat’s million IG followers are left laughing out loud and thoroughly engaged.  

pablorochat.com
@pablo.rochat

Argentinian director Lucrecia Taormina is not afraid to make you feel uncomfortable in the most colourful and focused way possible. Having made music videos for Elton John, Bree Runway, and Young Baby Tate (to name a few), her work is described as possessing “bold and entertaining narratives with a hyper - real aesthetic, iconic styling, and strong characters.” This aesthetic makes her work both engaging and terrifyingly beautiful. 

lucreciataormina.com
@lucrecia.taormina

British-Nigerian director Femi Ladi makes music videos, branded content and short films, where his work has been described as “challenging archetypes [and] letting characters evolve naturally before an audience with residual impact, creating a warmth and affinity for the subjects [that is] thick with subtext and light humour.” Ladi’s skill in composition, camera movement, and manipulating light are expertly applied in everything that he does, and he’s inspired by “the stories that emerge within the fabric and texture of multicultural lives and experiences within the mysticism of London, and its multidimensional offerings.

FEMILADI.COM