Music Video Competition presented by Vimeo
Music Video Program
A dynamic mix of creativity and stylish visuals where music and storytelling collide.
Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.
Program Includes:
Thoughtfully blending Kurdish and Western Asian music traditions with contemporary splashes of Hip Hop, Afrobeat, Latin, and Dance music, their self-titled new album, BIJI, aims to reframe the conversation about Kurdish culture and art. Zigidi, translating to ‘Millions’, shows the range and intensity of the album as its focal track. "My parents and their whole generation gave up their lives for the freedom I have today," reflects Nazari, referring to countless wars and conflicts in the region as well as a ban on speaking, recording, and performing songs in Kurdish that lasted years. The artist remains in pursuit of lasting freedom and expression.
This music video tells the story of a woman who’s lost all sense of what’s appropriate. Sick with the alienation that stems from existing in a disparate emotional state from the person or people closest to her, she grapples with debilitating loss, desires to be seen, and dares you to leave. Filmed with J. Smith Cameron at Dame restaurant in Portland Oregon.
From birth to death how badly can things go wrong? Born into a delivery room full of cigarette smoke, to becoming a child of divorce, then tripping into your death bed. In "Feldobom a Követ" Hungarian reality slaps us in the face.
Only Twin is the solo project of Seattled-bred, Los Angeles-based musician Thomas Dutton, whose sophomore album "It Feels Nice to Burn" was released in July 2024. For the album's lead single, "Give You Up", Dutton paired with good friends Josh Martin & Ryan McNeeley (The Director Brothers), to create a music video that paints a love story between human and robot. Anchored by Julianne Hough’s jaw-dropping choreography, she brings this quirky tale to life with unabashed sincerity, portraying a curious romance with an aging Xerox machine.
A music video for Cera Gibson's track "Eclipse", a song that delves into the complexities of a forbidden romance set against the backdrop of a celestial phenomenon. A blend of seductive, ritualistic imagery and the enigmatic beauty of the cosmos.
"Sonidos del Bosque" was born under the idea that looking closer to ourselves might be a good start to understand who we are and what we need. The story follows Miguel, he is an office worker that lives lost in the monotony of his work. One regular day he starts experiencing daydreaming. Through his visions he has contact with a free and wild version of himself. As the visions intensify, Miguel finds a portal in the bathroom, which transports him to the forest where he starts a journey that will help him to reconnect with nature and with himself
A ball escapes from a cat's claws, leading its way to the top of a mountain where a fire sits. The ball will have to be brave and embrace the fear of jumping from the cliff to morph into a human shaped character. With legs and arms, the evolved ball can now jump, fly and play within the ambiguous world that she navigates : equally playful and hostile.
The video follows Hana's murder, moving backward in time from the moment the cops discover her discarded head to the moment right before her death.
A continuation of the French Cassette’s previous film - "Medium Horny", our resident sad boy tries to escape his current world...only to be thrust into the complex cycle of love dimension. He finds his head in the clouds and journeys through to weather the storm. Will he ever find what he is looking for?
An ecstatic and surreal dance extravaganza with bold colors and a retro futuristic touch directed by Rupert Höller. Blending dreamlike architectural elements with a cheeky dance performance choreographed by Teresa "Toogie" Barcelo.
In an ancient dimension, untouched by time, beings exist in their purest forms. Inside, a young being prepares—intrepid yet hesitant—to leave the only world she knows. Outside, she encounters a matryoshka doll, revealing her lineage and the wisdom passed down from mothers to daughters, all held within a seed. This knowledge transports her into a realm of visions, where she witnesses life’s beauty and endless cycles. Drawn deeper into the unfolding wonders, she finds herself at the heart of a sprouting forest, surrounded by an interconnected system. As the vision fades, the world folds back into the seed. With quiet resolve, she plants it—and herself—into the soil, ready to be born on earth.
Climbing through grief…a tale of tragedy and triumph. The video, a glimpse into how a child processes grief, explores Brandon climbing through a series of childlike tree house vignettes representing denial, anger, and finally acceptance.
The "Tailor Swif" music video, shot in Kyiv in December 2021, showcases A$AP Rocky's drive to revolutionize visual storytelling alongside the director's artistic flair. Merging surreal avant-garde elements with hip-hop culture, the video captures the digital era's spirit with scenes that seem plucked from internet memes, like a wine-sipping rabbit and a man whose hair doubles as a bird's nest. This blend of absurdist humor and dreamlike visuals not only highlights the impact of internet culture on art but also establishes the video as a landmark in innovative, culturally resonant music videos.
In "Billy Strings - 'Seven Weeks in County'", a riveting spaghetti western adventure unfolds in the heart of the wild west. The story follows Billy, a wrongfully imprisoned drifter who narrowly escapes a hanging with the help of an unexpected ally. Shot at Willie Nelson’s Luck Ranch and Directed by Bryan Schlam, it’s a picture perfect homage to the masters of Italian cinema with a modern bluegrass twist.
Aube Perrie directed RM’s video "Lost!" as a mind-bending exploration into the K-pop star’s psyche. Adrift inside the video game-style maze of his own brain and accompanied by his emotions, RM must find his way back to the talk show.
Becoming ourselves is a gauntlet of awkward suffering and profound love - on the rugby pitch it’s a blood, spit, and tears crucible of awakening.
Official music video for the single "Please Please Please", performed by Sabrina Carpenter, co-starring actor Barry Keoghan.
“U, Lost + What I Gotta Do” is an ambitious music video starring Jeremy Pope and directed by C Prinz, delving into identity, spirituality, and emotional turmoil. Blending memoir, surreal narrative, and expressive dance, it mirrors Pope’s personal journey. Raised by a preacher and bodybuilder father, his creative process became a therapeutic outlet to channel ego, vulnerability, and love, capturing the balance between confidence and raw introspection. This striking video is an immersive exploration of the cultural forces that shaped him, pushing the boundaries of narrative and visual art.