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MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography

Annual music video award

Summary

Annual music video award

FieldValue
nameMTV Video Music Award
for Best Cinematography
awarded_forCinematography
imagesize100px
captionThe "moonman" trophy presented to the award winners
presenterMTV
countryUnited States
year1984
holderXiaolong Liu – "Not Like Us" by Kendrick Lamar (2025)
websiteVMA website

for Best Cinematography The MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography is a craft award given to both the artist as well as the cinematographer/director of photography of the music video.

From 1984 to 2006, the award's full name was Best Cinematography in a Video. After a brief absence in 2007, the category acquired its current, shortened name in 2008.

The biggest winner is Harris Savides with three wins. Pascal Lebègue, Daniel Pearl, Mark Plummer, and Scott Cunningham follow with two wins each. The most nominated director of photography is Daniel Pearl with nine nominations, followed by Jeff Cronenweth with seven. Beyoncé has won the most awards in this category with 4 wins. Madonna's videos have received the most nominations with ten. Ryan Lewis is also the only performer to have won a Moonman in this category for his work as a director of photography on the video for "Can't Hold Us" in 2013. Jared Leto ("Hurricane") is the only other performer to have been nominated for his work in this category.

Recipients

1980s

YearWinner(s)WorkNomineesRef.
"Every Breath You Take" (performed by The Police){{smalldiv
"The Boys of Summer" (performed by Don Henley){{smalldiv
"The Sun Always Shines on T.V." (performed by a-ha){{smalldiv
"C'est la Vie" (performed by Robbie Nevil){{smalldiv
"We'll Be Together" (performed by Sting){{smalldiv
"Express Yourself" (performed by Madonna){{smalldiv

1990s

YearWinner(s)WorkNomineesRef.
"Vogue" (performed by Madonna){{smalldiv
"Wicked Game (Concept)" (performed by Chris Isaak){{smalldiv
and Daniel Pearl"November Rain" (performed by Guns N' Roses){{smalldiv
"Rain" (performed by Madonna){{smalldiv
"Everybody Hurts" (performed by R.E.M.){{smalldiv
and Michael Trim"Love Is Strong" (performed by The Rolling Stones){{smalldiv
"Tonight, Tonight" (performed by The Smashing Pumpkins){{smalldiv
"Virtual Insanity" (performed by Jamiroquai){{smalldiv
"Criminal" (performed by Fiona Apple){{smalldiv
"The Dope Show" (performed by Marilyn Manson){{smalldiv

2000s

YearWinner(s)WorkNomineesRef.
"Do Something" (performed by Macy Gray){{smalldiv
"Weapon of Choice" (performed by Fatboy Slim){{smalldiv
"We Are All Made of Stars" (performed by Moby){{smalldiv
"Hurt" (performed by Johnny Cash){{smalldiv
"99 Problems" (performed by Jay-Z){{smalldiv
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (performed by Green Day){{smalldiv
"You're Beautiful" (performed by James Blunt){{smalldiv
colspan="5"
"Conquest" (performed by The White Stripes){{smalldiv
"21 Guns" (performed by Green Day){{smalldiv

2010s

YearWinner(s)WorkNomineesRef.
"Empire State of Mind" (performed by Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys){{smalldiv
"Rolling in the Deep" (performed by Adele){{smalldiv
"Bad Girls" (performed by M.I.A.){{smalldiv
, Jason Koenig and Mego Lin"Can't Hold Us" (performed by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis featuring Ray Dalton){{smalldiv
and Jackson Hunt"Pretty Hurts" (performed by Beyoncé){{smalldiv
"Never Catch Me" (performed by Flying Lotus featuring Kendrick Lamar){{smalldiv
"Formation" (performed by Beyoncé){{smalldiv
"HUMBLE." (performed by Kendrick Lamar){{smalldiv
"Apeshit" (performed by The Carters){{smalldiv
Scott Cunningham"Señorita" (performed by Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello){{smalldiv

2020s

YearWinner(s)WorkNomineesRef.
Michael Merriman"Rain on Me" (performed by Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande){{smalldiv
Benoit Soler, Malik H. Sayeed, Mohammaed Atta Ahmed, Santiago Gonzalez and Ryan Helfant"Brown Skin Girl" (performed by Beyoncé, Blue Ivy, Saint Jhn and Wizkid){{smalldiv
Nikita Kuzmenko"As It Was" (performed by Harry Styles){{smalldiv
Rina Yang"Anti-Hero" (performed by Taylor Swift){{smalldiv
Anatol Trofimov"We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)" (performed by Ariana Grande){{smalldiv
Xiaolong Liu"Not Like Us" (performed by Kendrick Lamar){{smalldiv

References

References

  1. "MTV Video Music Awards 1984". MTV.
  2. "MTV Video Music Awards 1985". MTV.
  3. "MTV Video Music Awards 1986". MTV.
  4. "MTV Video Music Awards 1987". MTV.
  5. "MTV Video Music Awards 1988". MTV.
  6. "MTV Video Music Awards 1989". MTV.
  7. "MTV Video Music Awards 1990". MTV.
  8. "MTV Video Music Awards 1991". MTV.
  9. "MTV Video Music Awards 1992". MTV.
  10. "MTV Video Music Awards 1993". MTV.
  11. "MTV Video Music Awards 1994". MTV.
  12. "MTV Video Music Awards 1995". MTV.
  13. "MTV Video Music Awards 1996". MTV.
  14. "MTV Video Music Awards 1997". MTV.
  15. "MTV Video Music Awards 1998". MTV.
  16. "MTV Video Music Awards 1999". MTV.
  17. "MTV Video Music Awards 2000". MTV.
  18. "MTV Video Music Awards 2001". MTV.
  19. "MTV Video Music Awards 2002". MTV.
  20. "MTV Video Music Awards 2003". MTV.
  21. "MTV Video Music Awards 2004". MTV.
  22. "MTV Video Music Awards 2005". MTV.
  23. "MTV Video Music Awards 2006". MTV.
  24. "MTV Video Music Awards 2008". MTV.
  25. "MTV Video Music Awards 2009". MTV.
  26. "MTV Video Music Awards 2010". MTV.
  27. "MTV Video Music Awards 2011". MTV.
  28. "MTV Video Music Awards 2012". MTV.
  29. "MTV Video Music Awards 2013". MTV.
  30. "MTV Video Music Awards 2014". MTV.
  31. "MTV Video Music Awards 2015". MTV.
  32. "2016 VMA Nominations: See the Full List Now". MTV News.
  33. (August 27, 2017). "2017 VMA Winners and Performances". MTV.
  34. Nordyke, Kimberly. (August 20, 2018). "VMAs: Winners List". [[MRC (company).
  35. Nordyke, Kimberly. (August 26, 2019). "MTV Video Music Awards: Taylor Swift, Jonas Brothers, Cardi B Among Winners".
  36. (July 31, 2020). "Ariana Grande & Lady Gaga Lead 2020 MTV VMA Nominations: See Full List".
  37. Serrano, Athena. (August 11, 2021). "The 2021 VMA Nominations Are Here: Justin Bieber, Megan Thee Stallion, and More". [[MTV News]]. [[MTV]].
  38. Serrano, Athena. (July 26, 2022). "Your 2022 VMA Nominations Are Here: Jack Harlow, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Nas X Lead The Pack". [[MTV News]]. [[MTV]].
  39. Tinoco, Armando. (8 August 2023). "MTV VMA Nominations: Taylor Swift Leads Pack With Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, Sam Smith & More Close By". Deadline.
  40. Atkinson, Kaite. (September 11, 2024). "Here's the Full List of 2024 MTV VMAs Winners".
  41. Grein, Paul. (August 5, 2025). "Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars are 1-2 in Nominations for 2025 MTV VMAs (Full List)".
Wikipedia Source

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