MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction

MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction
Awarded for	direction
Country	United States
Presented by	MTV
First awarded	1984
Last awarded	2015
Official website	VMA website

The MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction in a Video is a craft award given to the artist, the artist's manager, and the director of the music video. In 2007, the award was briefly renamed Best Director, but it returned to its original name for the 2008 awards. The biggest winners are Spike Jonze and David Fincher with three wins each, although one of Jonze's wins is credited as the "Torrance Community Dance Group".

The most nominated director is David Fincher with eight nominations. Remarkably, seven of Fincher's nominations were achieved in a three-year span (1989-1991), as he was nominated a record three times in both 1989 and 1990. Fincher's latest nomination (and win) occurred over twenty years later in 2013 for his video for "Suit & Tie." Closely following them is Francis Lawrence with six nominations. Hype Williams is the director with most nominations and no wins at five.

The performer whose videos have won the most awards is Madonna, whose videos have garnered three direction Moonmen. However, Eminem's videos have received the most nominations with seven.

Four performers have won a Moonman in this category for their work directing/co-directing their videos: George Michael ("Father Figure"), Beck ("The New Pollution"), Erykah Badu ("Honey"), and Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys ("Make Some Noise"). An additional six other performers have been nominated for their work co-directing/directing videos: Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Christina Aguilera, Jared Leto (as Bartholomew Cubbins), Ryan Lewis, and Bruno Mars.

Recipients

Year	Winner(s)	Work	Performer(s)	Nominees	Ref.
1984	Tim Newman	"Sharp Dressed Man"	ZZ Top	"All of the Good Ones Are Taken" – Martin Kahan (performed by Ian Hunter) "Dancing with Myself" – Tobe Hooper (performed by Billy Idol) "Every Breath You Take" – Godley & Creme (performed by The Police) "Gimme All Your Lovin'" – Tim Newman (performed by ZZ Top) "I Want a New Drug" – David Rathod (performed by Huey Lewis and the News) "Numbers with Wings" – Juliano Waldman (performed by The Bongos) "Time After Time" – Edd Griles (performed by Cyndi Lauper)	[1]
1985	Mondino, Jean-BaptisteJean-Baptiste Mondino	"The Boys of Summer"	Don Henley	"Dancin'" – Mary Lambert (performed by Chris Isaak) "Don't Come Around Here No More" – Jeff Stein (performed by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers) "Don't You (Forget About Me)" – Daniel Kleinman (performed by Simple Minds) "Run to You" – Steven Barron (performed by Bryan Adams) "Stranger in Town" – Steven Barron (performed by Toto) "The Wild Boys" – Russell Mulcahy (performed by Duran Duran)	[2]
1986	Steven Barron	"Take On Me"	a-ha	"Burning House of Love" – Daniel Kleinman (performed by X) "Money for Nothing" – Steven Barron (performed by Dire Straits) "Rough Boy" – Steven Barron (performed by ZZ Top) "Sex as a Weapon" – Daniel Kleinman (performed by Pat Benatar)	[3]
1987	Johnson, Stephen R.Stephen R. Johnson	"Sledgehammer"	Peter Gabriel	"Don't Dream It's Over" – Alex Proyas (performed by Crowded House) "Higher Love" – Peter Kagan and Paula Greif (performed by Steve Winwood) "Land of Confusion" – Jim Yukich and John Lloyd (performed by Genesis) "With or Without You" – Meiert Avis (performed by U2)	[4]
1988	Andy Morahan and George Michael	"Father Figure"	George Michael	"Dear God" – Nicholas Brandt (performed by XTC) "Learning to Fly" – Storm Thorgerson (performed by Pink Floyd) "The One I Love" – Robert Longo (performed by R.E.M.) "You Have Placed a Chill in My Heart" – Sophie Muller (performed by Eurythmics)	[5]
1989	Fincher, DavidDavid Fincher	"Express Yourself"	Madonna	"Finish What Ya Started" – Andy Morahan (performed by Van Halen) "Parents Just Don't Understand" – Scott Kalvert (performed by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince) "Real Love" – David Fincher (performed by Jody Watley) "Roll with It" – David Fincher (performed by Steve Winwood)	[6]
1990	Fincher, DavidDavid Fincher	"Vogue"	Madonna	"The End of the Innocence" – David Fincher (performed by Don Henley) "Janie's Got a Gun" – David Fincher (performed by Aerosmith) "Opposites Attract" – Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger (performed by Paula Abdul)	[7]
1991	Tarsem	"Losing My Religion"	R.E.M.	"Freedom! '90" – David Fincher (performed by George Michael) "Silent Lucidity" – Matt Mahurin (performed by Queensrÿche) "Wicked Game (Concept)" – Herb Ritts (performed by Chris Isaak)	[8]
1992	Mark Fenske	"Right Now"	Van Halen	"Baby Got Back" – Adam Bernstein (performed by Sir Mix-a-Lot) "Give It Away" – Stéphane Sednaoui (performed by Red Hot Chili Peppers) "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" – Matthew Rolston (performed by En Vogue)	[9]
1993	Pellington, MarkMark Pellington	"Jeremy"	Pearl Jam	"Free Your Mind" – Mark Romanek (performed by En Vogue) "Kiko and the Lavender Moon" – Ondrej Rudavsky (performed by Los Lobos) "Man on the Moon" – Peter Care (performed by R.E.M.)	[10]
1994	Jake Scott	"Everybody Hurts"	R.E.M.	"Amazing" – Marty Callner (performed by Aerosmith) "Sabotage" – Spike Jonze (performed by Beastie Boys) "Sweet Lullaby" – Tarsem (performed by Deep Forest)	[11]
1995	Jonze, SpikeSpike Jonze	"Buddy Holly"	Weezer	"Basket Case" – Mark Kohr (performed by Green Day) "Scream" – Mark Romanek (performed by Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson) "Waterfalls" – F. Gary Gray (performed by TLC)	[12]
1996	Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris	"Tonight, Tonight"	The Smashing Pumpkins	"Big Me" – Jesse Peretz (performed by Foo Fighters) "Ironic" – Stéphane Sednaoui (performed by Alanis Morissette) "It's Oh So Quiet" – Spike Jonze (performed by Björk)	[13]
1997	Beck Hansen	"The New Pollution"	Beck	"The End Is the Beginning Is the End" – Joel Schumacher, Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (performed by The Smashing Pumpkins) "The Perfect Drug" – Mark Romanek (performed by Nine Inch Nails) "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" – Hype Williams (performed by Missy Elliott) "Virtual Insanity" – Jonathan Glazer (performed by Jamiroquai)	[14]
1998	Åkerlund, JonasJonas Åkerlund	"Ray of Light"	Madonna	"Gone Till November" – Francis Lawrence (performed by Wyclef Jean) "Karma Police" – Jonathan Glazer (performed by Radiohead) "Push It" – Andrea Giacobbe (performed by Garbage) "Smack My Bitch Up" – Jonas Åkerlund (performed by The Prodigy)	[15]
1999	Torrance Community Dance Group	"Praise You"	Fatboy Slim	"Freak on a Leash" – Todd McFarlane, Graham Morris, Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (performed by Korn) "My Name Is" – Dr. Dre and Phillip Atwell (performed by Eminem) "No Scrubs" – Hype Williams (performed by TLC) "What's It Gonna Be?!" – Hype Williams and Busta Rhymes (performed by Busta Rhymes (featuring Janet Jackson))	[16]
2000	Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris	"Californication"	Red Hot Chili Peppers	"Everything Is Everything" – Sanji (performed by Lauryn Hill) "Learn to Fly" – Jesse Peretz (performed by Foo Fighters) "The Real Slim Shady" – Dr. Dre and Phillip Atwell (performed by Eminem) "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" – Paul Hunter and Dominique Trenier (performed by D'Angelo)	[17]
2001	Jonze, SpikeSpike Jonze	"Weapon of Choice"	Fatboy Slim	"Imitation of Life" – Garth Jennings (performed by R.E.M.) "Crawling" – Brothers Strause (performed by Linkin Park) "Ms. Jackson" – F. Gary Gray (performed by OutKast) "Stan" – Dr. Dre and Phillip Atwell (performed by Eminem (featuring Dido))	[18]
2002	Kahn, JosephJoseph Kahn	"Without Me"	Eminem	"Alive" – Francis Lawrence (performed by P.O.D.) "By the Way" – Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (performed by Red Hot Chili Peppers) "One Minute Man" – Dave Meyers (performed by Missy Elliott (featuring Ludacris and Trina) "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" – David LaChapelle (performed by Elton John)	[19]
2003	Thraves, JamieJamie Thraves	"The Scientist"	Coldplay	"Cry Me a River" – Francis Lawrence (performed by Justin Timberlake) "The Hell Song" – Marc Klasfeld (performed by Sum 41) "Hurt" – Mark Romanek (performed by Johnny Cash) "Work It" – Dave Meyers and Missy Elliott (performed by Missy Elliott)	[20]
2004	Romanek, MarkMark Romanek	"99 Problems"	Jay-Z	"The Hardest Button to Button" – Michel Gondry (performed by The White Stripes) "Hey Ya!" – Bryan Barber (performed by OutKast) "It's My Life" – David LaChapelle (performed by No Doubt) "Walkie Talkie Man" – Michel Gondry (performed by Steriogram)	[21]
2005	Bayer, SamuelSamuel Bayer	"Boulevard of Broken Dreams"	Green Day	"Blue Orchid" – Floria Sigismondi (performed by The White Stripes) "Get Right" – Francis Lawrence and Diane Martel (performed by Jennifer Lopez) "Lose Control" – Dave Meyers and Missy Elliott (performed by Missy Elliott (featuring Ciara and Fatman Scoop)) "Vertigo" – Alex and Martin (performed by U2)	[22]
2006	Robert Hales	"Crazy"	Gnarls Barkley	"Dani California" – Tony Kaye (performed by Red Hot Chili Peppers) "Miss Murder" – Marc Webb (performed by AFI) "Testify" – Anthony Mandler (performed by Common) "Wasteland" – Kevin Kerslake (performed by 10 Years)	[23]
2007	Bayer, SamuelSamuel Bayer	"What Goes Around... Comes Around"	Justin Timberlake	"Beautiful Liar" – Jake Nava (performed by Beyoncé and Shakira) "Candyman" – Matthew Rolston and Christina Aguilera (performed by Christina Aguilera) "Stronger" – Hype Williams (performed by Kanye West) "Umbrella" – Chris Applebaum (performed by Rihanna (featuring Jay-Z)) "What I've Done" – Joe Hahn (performed by Linkin Park)	[24]
2008	Badu, ErykahErykah Badu and Mr. Roboto	"Honey"	Erykah Badu	"Nine in the Afternoon" – Shane Drake (performed by Panic at the Disco) "Shadow of the Day" – Joe Hahn (performed by Linkin Park) "Take a Bow" – Anthony Mandler (performed by Rihanna) "When I Grow Up" – Joseph Kahn (performed by Pussycat Dolls)	[25]
2009	Webb, MarcMarc Webb	"21 Guns"	Green Day	"Circus" – Francis Lawrence (performed by Britney Spears) "Good Girls Go Bad" – Kai Regan (performed by Cobra Starship (featuring Leighton Meester)) "Paparazzi" – Jonas Åkerlund (performed by Lady Gaga) "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" – Jake Nava (performed by Beyoncé)	[26]
2010	Lawrence, FrancisFrancis Lawrence	"Bad Romance"	Lady Gaga	"Empire State of Mind" – Hype Williams (performed by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys) "Funhouse" – Dave Meyers (performed by Pink) "Kings and Queens" – Bartholomew Cubbins (performed by Thirty Seconds to Mars) "Not Afraid" – Rich Lee (performed by Eminem)	[27]
2011	Yauch, AdamAdam Yauch	"Make Some Noise"	Beastie Boys	"E.T." – Floria Sigismondi (performed by Katy Perry (featuring Kanye West)) "Hurricane" – Bartholomew Cubbins (performed by Thirty Seconds to Mars) "Love the Way You Lie" – Joseph Kahn (performed by Eminem (featuring Rihanna)) "Rolling in the Deep" – Sam Brown (performed by Adele)	[28]
2012	Gavras, RomainRomain Gavras	"Bad Girls"	M.I.A.	"Big Bad Wolf" – Keith Schofield (performed by Duck Sauce) "Otis" – Spike Jonze (performed by Jay-Z and Kanye West (featuring Otis Redding)) "Princess of China" – Adria Petty and Alan Bibby (performed by Coldplay (featuring Rihanna)) "Swim Good" – Nabil Elderkin (performed by Frank Ocean)	[29]
2013	Fincher, DavidDavid Fincher	"Suit & Tie"	Justin Timberlake (featuring Jay-Z)	"Can't Hold Us" – Ryan Lewis, Jason Koenig and Jon Jon Augustavo (performed by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis (featuring Ray Dalton)) "Carry On" – Anthony Mandler (performed by Fun.) "Sacrilege" – Megaforce (performed by Yeah Yeah Yeahs) "Started from the Bottom" – Director X and Drake (performed by Drake)	[30]
2014	DANIELS	"Turn Down for What"	DJ Snake and Lil Jon	"The Monster" – Rich Lee (performed by Eminem (featuring Rihanna)) "Pretty Hurts" – Melina Matsoukas (performed by Beyoncé) "Wrecking Ball" – Terry Richardson (performed by Miley Cyrus) "The Writing's on the Wall" – Damian Kulash, Aaron Duffy and Bob Partington (performed by OK Go)	[31]
2015	Tilley, ColinColin Tilley and the Little Homies	"Alright"	Kendrick Lamar	"Bad Blood" – Joseph Kahn (performed by Taylor Swift (featuring Kendrick Lamar)) "Sober" – Hiro Murai (performed by Childish Gambino) "Take Me to Church" – Brendan Canty and Conal Thomson (performed by Hozier) "Uptown Funk" – Bruno Mars and Cameron Duddy (performed by Mark Ronson (featuring Bruno Mars))	[32]

References

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2. "MTV Video Music Awards 1985". MTV. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
3. "MTV Video Music Awards 1986". MTV. Retrieved July 23, 2012.
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