MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction (MTV Video Music Award)

MTV Video Music Award

The following is a list of MTV Video Music Awards winners for Best Direction in a Video. In 2007, the award was briefly renamed Best Director, but it returned to its original name for the 2008 awards. The category's biggest winner, on the side of the artists, is Madonna, who won all three of her nominations in this category. Meanwhile, for the directors, Spike Jonze and David Fincher are the biggest winners with three wins, Spike Jonze won once credited as the "Torrance Community Dance Group". As for nominations, the most nominated artist is Eminem, who has seven nominations, while the most nominated is David Fincher, with eight nominations. Remarkably, Fincher's nominations were achieved mostly in three years, as in each year of 1989 and 1990 he was nominated a record three times. Fincher's latest nomination, though, occurred over twenty years later, as he received a nomination in 2013 for his video for "Suit & Tie, which he won." Francis Lawrence is the second biggest nominee in this category, receiving six nominations from 2002 to 2010. Hype Williams is the director with most nominations and no wins.

Date Established : 1984

Check all the winners of MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction presented under MTV Video Music Award since 1984 .

Videos

MTV Video Music Awards 2014 - Full List Of Winers

MTV Video Music Awards 2014 - Full List of Nominees

News

Rihanna to Receive Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at 2016 MTV Video Music Awards (Fri, Aug 12 2016)
Beyonce Leads 2016 MTV VMA Nominations (Wed, Jul 27 2016)
Beyonce Took Four Awards In 2014 MTV Video Music Awards (Mon, Aug 25 2014)

DJ Snake, Lil Jon

Honored for : Turn Down For What

(Directors: DANIELS)

Nominations 2014 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Beyoncé Knowles	Pretty Hurts Director: Melina Matsoukas
DJ Snake	Turn Down For What Directors: DANIELS
Lil Jon	Turn Down For What Directors: DANIELS
Eminem	The Monster Director: Rich Lee
Rihanna	The Monster Director: Rich Lee
Miley Cyrus	Wrecking Ball Director: Terry Richardson
OK Go	The Writing\u2019s On The Wall Directors: Damian Kulash, Aaron Duffy & Bob Partington

Justin Timberlake, Jay-Z, David Fincher

Honored for : Suit & Tie

(Director: David Fincher)

Nominations 2013 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Drake	Started from the Bottom Directors: Director X and Drake
Director X	Started from the Bottom Directors: Director X and Drake
Fun	Carry On Director: Anthony Mandler
Anthony Mandler	Carry On Director: Anthony Mandler
Macklemore	Can't Hold Us Directors: Ryan Lewis, Jason Koenig and Jon Jon Augustavo
Ryan Lewis	Can't Hold Us Directors: Ryan Lewis, Jason Koenig and Jon Jon Augustavo
Ray Dalton	Can't Hold Us Directors: Ryan Lewis, Jason Koenig and Jon Jon Augustavo
Jason Koenig	Can't Hold Us Directors: Ryan Lewis, Jason Koenig and Jon Jon Augustavo
Jon Jon Augustavo	Can't Hold Us Directors: Ryan Lewis, Jason Koenig and Jon Jon Augustavo
Yeah Yeah Yeahs	Sacrilege Director: Megaforce
Megaforce	Sacrilege Director: Megaforce
Justin Timberlake	Suit & Tie Director: David Fincher
Jay-Z	Suit & Tie Director: David Fincher
David Fincher	Suit & Tie Director: David Fincher

M.I.A.

Honored for : Bad Girls

(Director: Romain Gavras)

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
M.I.A.	Bad Girls Director: Romain Gavras
Coldplay	Princess of China Directors: Adria Petty and Alan Bibby
Rihanna	Princess of China Directors: Adria Petty and Alan Bibby
Duck Sauce	Big Bad Wolf Director: Keith Schofield
Frank Ocean	Swim Good Director: Nabil Elderkin
Jay-Z	Otis Director: Spike Jonze
Kanye West	Otis Director: Spike Jonze
Otis Redding	Otis Director: Spike Jonze

Beastie Boys

Honored for : Make Some Noise

(Director: Adam Yauch)

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Beastie Boys	Make Some Noise Director: Adam Yauch
Adele	Rolling In The Deep Director: Sam Brown
Eminem	Love the Way You Lie Director: Joseph Kahn
Katy Perry	E.T. Director: Floria Sigismondi
30 Seconds to Mars	Hurricane Director: Bartholomew Cubbins

Lady Gaga

Honored for : Bad Romance

(Director: Francis Lawrence)

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Eminem	Not Afraid Director: Rich Lee
Lady Gaga	Bad Romance Director: Francis Lawrence
P!nk	Funhouse Director: Dave Meyers
30 Seconds to Mars	Kings and Queens Director: Bartholomew Cubbins
Jay-Z	Empire State of Mind Director: Hype Williams
Alicia Keys	Empire State of Mind Director: Hype Williams

Green Day

Honored for : 21 Guns

(Director: Marc Webb)

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Cobra Starship	Good Girls Go Bad Director: Kai Regan
Leighton Meester	Good Girls Go Bad Director: Kai Regan
Green Day	21 Guns Director: Marc Webb
Beyoncé Knowles	Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) Director: Jake Nava
Lady Gaga	Paparazzi Director: Jonas Åkerlund
Britney Spears	Circus Director: Francis Lawrence

Erykah Badu

Honored for : Honey

(Directed by Erykah Badu and Mr. Roboto)

Nominations 2008 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Linkin Park	Shadow of the Day Directed by Joe Hahn
Panic! at the Disco	Nine in the Afternoon Directed by Shane Drake
The Pussycat Dolls	When I Grow Up Directed by Joseph Kahn
Rihanna	Take a Bow Directed by Anthony Mandler
Erykah Badu	Honey Directed by Erykah Badu and Mr. Roboto

Justin Timberlake

Honored for : What Goes Around.../...Comes Around

(Directed by Samuel Bayer)

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Justin Timberlake	What Goes Around.../...Comes Around Directed by Samuel Bayer
Beyoncé Knowles	Beautiful Liar Directed by Jake Nava
Shakira	Beautiful Liar Directed by Jake Nava
Rihanna	Umbrella Directed by Chris Applebaum
Jay-Z	Umbrella Directed by Chris Applebaum
Linkin Park	What I've Done Directed by Joseph Hahn
Kanye West	Stronger Directed by Hype Williams
Christina Aguilera	Candyman Directed by Matthew Rolston and Christina Aguilera

Gnarls Barkley

Honored for : Crazy

(Directed by Robert Hales)

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
10 Years	Wasteland Directed by Kevin Kerslake
Common	Testify Directed by Anthony Mandler
Gnarls Barkley	Crazy Directed by Robert Hales
AFI	Miss Murder Directed by Marc Webb
Red Hot Chili Peppers	Dani California Directed by Tony Kaye

Green Day

Honored for : Boulevard of Broken Dreams

(Directed by Samuel Bayer)

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
U2	Vertigo Directors: Alex and Martin
The White Stripes	Blue Orchid Director: Floria Sigismondi
Green Day	Boulevard of Broken Dreams Directed by Samuel Bayer
Jennifer Lopez	Get Right Directors: Francis Lawrence and Diane Martel
Missy Elliott	Lose Control Directors: Dave Meyers and Missy Elliott
Ciara	Lose Control Directors: Dave Meyers and Missy Elliott
Fatman Scoop	Lose Control Directors: Dave Meyers and Missy Elliott

Jay-Z

Honored for : 99 Problems

(Director: Mark Romanek)

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Jay-Z	99 Problems Director: Mark Romanek
No Doubt	It's My Life Director: David LaChapelle
Steriogram	Walkie Talkie Man Director: Michel Gondry
Outkast	Hey Ya! Director: Bryan Barber
The White Stripes	The Hardest Button to Button Director: Michel Gondry

Coldplay

Honored for : The Scientist

(Director: Jamie Thraves)

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Sum 41	The Hell Song Director: Marc Klasfeld
Justin Timberlake	Cry Me a River Director: Francis Lawrence
Missy Elliott	Work It Director: Dave Meyers and Missy Elliott
Coldplay	The Scientist Director: Jamie Thraves
Johnny Cash	Hurt Director: Mark Romanek

Eminem

Honored for : Without Me

(Director: Joseph Kahn)

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Elton John	This Train Don't Stop There Anymore Director: David LaChapelle
Red Hot Chili Peppers	By the Way Directors: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
P.O.D.	Alive Director: Francis Lawrence
Missy Elliott	One Minute Man Director: Dave Meyers
Ludacris	One Minute Man Director: Dave Meyers
Trina	One Minute Man Director: Dave Meyers
Eminem	Without Me Director: Joseph Kahn

Fatboy Slim

Honored for : Weapon of Choice

(Director: Spike Jonze)

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
R.E.M.	Imitation of Life Director: Garth Jennings
Fatboy Slim	Weapon of Choice Director: Spike Jonze
Dido	Stan Directors: Dr. Dre and Phillip Atwell
Eminem	Stan Directors: Dr. Dre and Phillip Atwell
Outkast	Ms. Jackson Director: F. Gary Gray
Linkin Park	Crawling Directors: Brothers Strause

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Honored for : Californication

(Directors: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris)

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Eminem	The Real Slim Shady Directors: Dr. Dre and Phillip Atwell
D'Angelo	Untitled (How Does It Feel) Directors: Paul Hunter and Dominique Trenier
Red Hot Chili Peppers	Californication Directors: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Foo Fighters	Learn To Fly Director: Jesse Peretz
Lauryn Hill	Everything Is Everything Director: Sanji

Fatboy Slim

Honored for : Praise You

(Director: Torrance Community Dance Group)

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Busta Rhymes	What's It Gonna Be?! Directors: Hype Williams and Busta Rhymes
Janet Jackson	What's It Gonna Be?! Directors: Hype Williams and Busta Rhymes
TLC	No Scrubs Director: Hype Williams
Korn	Freak On A Leash Directors: Todd McFarlane, Graham Morris, Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Fatboy Slim	Praise You Director: Torrance Community Dance Group
Eminem	My Name Is Directors: Dr. Dre and Phillip Atwell

Madonna

Honored for : Ray of Light

(Director: Jonas Åkerlund)

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Wyclef Jean	Gone Till November Director: Francis Lawrence
Refugee Camp Allstars	Gone Till November Director: Francis Lawrence
Madonna	Ray of Light Director: Jonas Åkerlund
Garbage	Push It Director: Andrea Giacobbe
The Prodigy	Smack My Bitch Up Director: Jonas Åkerlund
Radiohead	Karma Police Director: Jonathan Glazer

Beck Hansen

Honored for : The New Pollution

(Director: Beck Hansen)

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Nine Inch Nails	The Perfect Drug Director: Mark Romanek
Beck Hansen	The New Pollution Director: Beck Hansen
Jamiroquai	Virtual Insanity Director: Jonathan Glazer
Missy Elliott	The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) Director: Hype Williams
The Smashing Pumpkins	The End Is The Beginning Is The End Directors: Joel Schumacher, Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris

The Smashing Pumpkins

Honored for : Tonight, Tonight

(Directors: Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton)

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
The Smashing Pumpkins	Tonight, Tonight Directors: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Alanis Morissette	Ironic Direction: Stéphane Sednaoui
Björk	It's Oh So Quiet Director: Spike Jonze
Foo Fighters	Big Me Director: Jesse Peretz

Weezer

Honored for : Buddy Holly

(Director: Spike Jonze)

Nominations 1995 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
TLC	Waterfalls Director: F. Gary Gray
Janet Jackson	Scream Director: Mark Romanek
Michael Jackson	Scream Director: Mark Romanek
Green Day	Basket Case Director: Mark Kohr
Weezer	Buddy Holly Director: Spike Jonze

R.E.M.

Honored for : Everybody Hurts

(Director: Jake Scott)

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Aerosmith	Amazing Director: Marty Callner
R.E.M.	Everybody Hurts Director: Jake Scott)
Beastie Boys	Sabotage Director: Spike Jonze
Deep Forest	Sweet Lullaby Director: Tarsem

Pearl Jam

Honored for : Jeremy

(Director: Mark Pellington)

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
En Vogue	Free Your Mind Director: Mark Romanek
Pearl Jam	Jeremy Director: Mark Pellington
Los Lobos	Kiko and the Lavender Moon Director: Ondrej Rudavsky
R.E.M.	Man on the Moon Director: Peter Care

Van Halen

Honored for : Right Now

(Director: Mark Fenske)

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Van Halen	Right Now Director: Mark Fenske
Red Hot Chili Peppers	Give It Away Director: Stéphane Sednaoui
Sir Mix-a-Lot	Baby Got Back Director: Adam Bernstein
En Vogue	My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It) Director: Matthew Rolston

R.E.M.

Honored for : Losing My Religion

(Director: Tarsem)

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Chris Isaak	Wicked Game Director: Herb Ritts
George Michael	Freedom! '90 Director: David Fincher
Queensrÿche	Silent Lucidity Director: Matt Mahurin
R.E.M.	Losing My Religion Director: Tarsem

Madonna

Honored for : Vogue

(Director: David Fincher)

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Aerosmith	Janie's Got A Gun Director: David Fincher
Madonna	Vogue Director: David Fincher
Don Henley	The End of the Innocence Director: David Fincher
Paula Abdul	Opposites Attract Directors: Michael Patterson and Candace Reckinger

Madonna

Honored for : Express Yourself

(Director: David Fincher)

Nominations 1989 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Madonna	Express Yourself Director: David Fincher
Jody Watley	Real Love Director: David Fincher
Steve Winwood	Roll With It Director: David Fincher
Van Halen	Finish What Ya Started Director: Andy Morahan
DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince	Parents Just Don't Understand Director: Scott Kalvert

George Michael

Honored for : Father Figure

(Directors: Andy Morahan and George Michael)

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Eurythmics	You Have Placed A Chill In My Heart Director: Sophie Muller
XTC	Dear God Director: Nicholas Brandt
Pink Floyd	Learning to Fly Director: Storm Thorgerson
R.E.M.	The One I Love Director: Robert Longo
George Michael	Father Figure Directors: Andy Morahan and George Michael

Peter Gabriel

Honored for : Sledgehammer

(Director: Stephen R. Johnson)

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Peter Gabriel	Sledgehammer Director: Stephen R. Johnson
U2	With or Without You Director: Meiert Avis
Crowded House	Don't Dream It's Over Director: Alex Proyas
Genesis	Land Of Confusion Directors: Jim Yukich and John Lloyd
Steve Winwood	Higher Love Directors: Peter Kagan and Paula Greif

A-ha

Honored for : Take on Me

(Director: Steven Barron)

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
A-ha	Take on Me Director: Steven Barron
Pat Benatar	Sex as a Weapon Director: Daniel Kleinman
X	Burning House of Love Director: Daniel Kleinman
Dire Straits	Money For Nothing Director: Steven Barron
ZZ Top	Rough Boy Director: Steven Barron

Don Henley

Honored for : The Boys of Summer

(Director: Jean-Baptiste Mondino)

Nominations 1985 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
Bryan Adams	Run to You Director: Steven Barron
Simple Minds	Don't You (Forget About Me) Director: Daniel Kleinman
Chris Isaak	Dancin' Director: Mary Lambert
Toto	Stranger in Town Director: Steven Barron
Duran Duran	The Wild Boys Director: Russell Mulcahy
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers	Don't Come Around Here No More Director: Jeff Stein
Don Henley	The Boys of Summer Director: Jean-Baptiste Mondino

ZZ Top

Honored for : Sharp Dressed Man

(Director: Tim Newman)

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee	Nominated Work
The Police	Every Breath You Take Directors: Godley & Creme
Ian Hunter	All of the Good Ones Are Taken Director: Martin Kahan
The Bongos	Numbers with Wings Director: Juliano Waldman
ZZ Top	Sharp Dressed Man Director: Tim Newman
Huey Lewis & the News	I Want a New Drug Director: David Rathod
Cyndi Lauper	Time After Time Director: Edd Griles
Billy Idol	Dancing with Myself Director: Tobe Hooper
ZZ Top	Gimme All Your Lovin' Director: Tim Newman

MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction