Jonas Akerlund is a renonwned swedish director who has been internationally awarded for his
work as director of music videos, commercials, documentraies, stage shows, and feature films. He will be screening at the 2012 La Jolla Fashion Film Festival.
Jonas Akerlund is a famed Swedish film and music director. He is best known for directing music videos and short films. His video for Madonna’s song “Ray of Light” won a Grammy for Best Music Video, short form, and a record seven awards at 1998 MTV Video Music Awards, including the Video of the year.
Jonas has directed music videos for the likes of Madonna, U2, Rolling Stones, Beyoncé, Pink, Jennifer Lopez, Metallica, Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne, Robbie Williams, Christina Aguilera, Smashing Pumpkins, Lenny Kravitz and Maroon 5 to name a few. His music video work has earned him several Grammy Awards, MTV Awards (including Best Director) and the prestigious MVPA Hall of Fame Award. As recently as late 2009 he won a coveted MVPA for the music video for Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi”. Jonas has also directed the award winning video “Telephone” for Lady Gaga ft. Beyoncé.
Jonas received the highest regarded award in UK’s 2011 Music Video Awards. The Icon Award was presented to Jonas by Nick Rhodes and Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran.
Jonas has great experience in still photography. He has shot numerous portraits, album covers and fashion stories for magazines such as The Face, Elle, Flair, and V magazine to name a few. Jonas has also directed several documentaries and short films ranging on subjects of anti-racism (“Behind Enemy Lines”) and anti-drugs (“Try”) to the award winning documentary about Madonna (“I Am Going To Tell You A Secret”). Jonas also received critical acclaim and another Grammy for directing Madonna’s NBC Special “The Confessions Tour” in 2007.
Jonas continues to be an icon in the film industry and currently splits his time between Stockholm and Los Angeles where he continues working and creating his masterpieces.