I never planned on becoming a filmmaker. I’m a recording artist — but when my cinematographer Dave Lang watched our finished video for my Depeche Mode “People Are People” reimagining, he looked at me and said we should submit it to film festivals.
That one suggestion changed everything.
Our first submission was the Central Coast International Film Festival. We won Best Music Video. I remember thinking: okay, we might have something special here. So I kept going — submitting to more than 78 festivals around the world. What came back humbles me to this day: 9 awards, 4 honorable mentions, and 20 nominations. I’m beyond grateful for every bit of recognition my team and I received.
A premiere I’ll never forget
The honor of my life so far was premiering the video at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. I became the third recording artist in history to release a directorial debut as a world premiere at that iconic theatre — and honestly, it still feels surreal saying that out loud.
That night, I got to share my vision with the music and film industry, my dear friends, and especially my parents, who flew all the way in from Florida. Seeing my picture up on that big marquee on Hollywood Boulevard meant the world to me. Sold-out crowd. Positive reviews from everyone. It’s a moment I will always cherish.
The win that surprised me most
Every one of those nine awards carries its own special meaning. Each festival showed such pure love and support — not just for us, but for all the passionate independent filmmakers in the room.
The one that surprised me most was ARFF Amsterdam. They gave us the Jury Award for Best Music Video — the first jury award of its kind we’d ever received. I accepted it with such great honor.
What I wish I’d known
If someone had pulled me aside before our first submission, I wish they’d told me the festival circuit was going to be a long road of ups and downs. But in the end, it’s all about the journey and not the destination — and I mean that with my whole heart.
My advice
To every artist and independent filmmaker thinking about this road: believe in your vision. Be grateful for your Dream Team — the ones who were there from the beginning. And deeply research every single festival before you submit, to make sure their festival actually aligns with your project. That homework matters more than you think.
This journey changed me as an artist. And we’re just getting started.