Since launching in 2015, AMVFest has become one of the top music video festivals on the globe, fearlessly showcasing work from Independent and diverse artists alongside the likes of Childish Gambino, Spike Jonze, The Flaming Lips, and Beyonce!

The 6th annual Austin Music Video Festival (AMVFest) celebrates and awards artists from around the world (DEC 1-4, 2021).

PS: We accept work from any location (and any year) regardless of language, budget, or popularity!

Join the Music Video Community.

5 REASONS TO SUBMIT TO AUSTIN MUSIC VIDEO FESTIVAL:

1. THE FESTIVAL: Accepted videomakers have access to AMVFest, the largest music video festival in the world. Screening hundreds of curated videos (nominees and official selections) from around the world, the Fest attracts groundbreaking directors, bands, video agencies, production houses and tech leaders, as well as countless working videomakers and commercial artists. You’re destined to leave with a notebook full of strategies, contacts, and the inspiration to start your next project.

2. THE SELECTION PROCESS: We take to heart the amount of work you put into each music video. Therefore, we are careful to ensure that each video is reviewed by a team. We like to be transparent in our process and judge the content over the production value or popularity.

3. THE AWARD SHOW: Each year, we have a plethora of directors and bands from all over the world in attendance to see who will take the prize.

In addition, Jury Award winners are decided each year by esteemed and celebrated judges, including representatives from Video, Billboard, The GRAMMY's, Texas Music and Film Office, and Shiny Music Awards (UK) - to name a few.

4. THE CITY: There's a reason why Moviemaker Magazine consistently names Austin one of the best cities to live and work as a filmmaker. Perhaps one of the only cities where you can eat gourmet tacos, discover amazing bands, go swimming, AND discover music videos from the pool all in the same night, Austin is rich with culture and renowned for its hospitality and it supportive and innovative film, music, and tech community. Note: our future fest location may be virtual / online only.

5. THE AMVF COMMUNITY: We can guarantee that AMVF isn’t your average fest. Yes, there are incredible parties. Yes, the screens are big to huge. But what's most apparent is the community of videomakers and supporters that continues to grow around the Festival. There are no velvet ropes here, and registrants and videomakers are known to rendezvous with the best of them. At our parties, relationships are made and subsequent babies are created (in this metaphor the babies are music videos. Or babies. We don't judge).

Check out our new award categories and judges below!

AWARD CATEGORIES
(2020 & 2021)

● Video of the Year
● The "Alright, Alright, Alright" Award (Best of Austin)
● Keepin’ It Weird Award (Best of Weird)
● Best Performance (by Actor, Ensemble, or Band)
● Horror Award (Best Horror)
● Funny or High Award (Best Funny Video)
● Best Narrative
● Overachiever Award (**Students Only**)
● Instant Classic (Best Throwback or Nostalgic Video)
● Best Cinematography
● Best Director
● Best Art Direction
● Best Animation / Mixed Media
● Best Visual Effects

AWARD JUDGES

● Jeffrey Bowers (Vimeo Staff Picks)
● Terry Lickona (Austin City Limits, The GRAMMYs)
● Erika Cespedes (Billboard.com)
● Graham Reynolds (Composer for Golden Hornet Project, Before Midnight, A Scanner Darkly)
● Juan LR Montes (Buenos Aires Music Video Fest)
● Robin Lambaria (Marfa Film Festival)
● Deborah Sengupta (Austin American-Statesman)
● Alex Vallejo (Pachanga Latino Music Festival, Vallejo)
● Marc Fort (Texas Music Office)
● PJ Raval (University of Texas, RTF Professor)
● Lauren Kinsler (University of Texas, RTF Professor)
● Simon Katz (Republic Records)
● Caroline Bottomley (Shiny Awards - UK)
● Jean Lauer (Cine Las Americas International Film Festival)
● Ramtin Nikzad (Fortress Fest)
● Laura Kincaid (ATX Television Fest)
● Jake Nishimura (AEG Live)
● Curran Nault (OUTsider Fest)
● Steven Cantu (SoFar Sounds)
● Malika Boudissa (Resonator Experience Agency)
● Caroline Bottomley (Shiny, UK)
● Bradley Beesley (Film & Video Director (The Fearless Freaks))
● Roy Rutngamlug (Austin Film Festival)
● Omar Lozano (Visit Austin)
● Gabe Chicoine (Austin Film Society)

AMVFEST.COM

IMPORTANT Rules & Terms

01. The awards are open for music video production companies, agencies, directors, producers, record companies, artists and other professionals working with music video production age 13 or older.

a. Music Videos can be from ANY YEAR and ANY LENGTH (please email us if it's over 10 minutes to pre-screen!
b. Student Submissions must be accompanied by a current student ID (2019-2021).
c. Acceptance may only guarantee screening OR award nomination.

The Promoter reserves the right to verify the eligibility of participants and check their identity in accordance with our privacy policy.

02. Participants can attend with one or several music videos and every music video can be nominated for more than one award.

03. Each category is open for music videos that have been submitted to the Austin Music Video Awards from December 14, 2019 - October 2021.

04. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for network, computer hardware or software failures of any kind, which may restrict or delay the sending of your music video or registration. Incomplete registration that doesn't meet the requirements of these conditions will be disqualified.

05. All music videos submitted will first be reviewed and nominated by AMVF. These nominations will be collated and the videos with the highest score will go to the second round. In the second round, a selected group of judges will judge who receives the award. They can also reallocate a video into a different category.

06. The winning entry in each category will show the necessary artistic quality, creative contributions and technical skills in line with the category’s requirements.

07. All the Winners will be announced and receive their trophy at the awards ceremony that will take place at the Austin Music Video Festival in the fall of 2018. Winners who can’t show up, have to send a representative to receive the award. A list of winners will be published on the website and stay there as long as the Austin Music Video Festival.

08. All entrants warrant and undertake that they have obtained all relevant rights and written. Permission from individuals featured in the entry.

09. All participants warrant that their movie or music video does not violate federal law.

10. By submitting the music video permits participants that the Austin Music Video Festival can use the video as well as pictures and names attached to the film for advertising and public relations purposes in connection with marketing the Austin Music Video Festival.

11. The Promoter may use the information participants provide to contact participants regarding their products and services.

12. Managers Anthony Erickson and Jeremy Roye reserve the right to modify these terms.

13. Not all submissions are guaranteed acceptance. AMVFest retains the right to accept or decline any submission.

14. There are NO REFUNDS. Thanks for your understanding.

15. By submitting the material, the applicant hereby agrees to indemnify, hold harmless, and defend the festival & its employees from any liability, claims, and damages in connection with the submission and from any fees and expenses, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees, that any of them may incur in connection therewith.

I/We understand that failure to adhere to the competition rules and regulations will result in disqualification and forfeiture of entry fee.

I/We agree to hold the Austin Music Video Festival harmless from and defend them against all claims, demands, losses, damages, judgments, liabilities, and expenses (including attorney’s fees) arising out of or in connection with any and all claims of third parties, whether or not groundless, based on any music video, advertisement, film or media submitted to the Festival.

Note: Award winners are responsible for picking up (or a representative) trophies or covering the shipping costs if delivered.

Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Marcos Morales

    What a fun time! A film fest all about music vids!

    October 2020
  • Daniel Swinton

    Came from Australia for this festival and what an experience it was. Great selection of films, great environment, hospitality and enthusiasm from the coordinators, and met plenty of talented filmmakers.

    March 2020
  • Rupert Höller

    Really happy about the Overachiever Award this year for my music video Leyya - Wannabe. Unfortunately I couldn't attend but heard from fellow filmmakes that it is a really great festival!

    December 2019
  • great - energetic team! sadly couldn't attend but friends that made it said it was well curated

    December 2019
  • I didnt get to attend since I live on the other side of the planet but communication was A+++ Thank you for nominating and screening our video!

    December 2019