About me
Renowned Swedish director Jonas Åkerlund is an award-winning director of international music videos, commercials, documentaries, stage shows and feature films.
Jonas has directed music videos for the likes of Madonna, U2, Rolling Stones, Beyonce, Pink, Jennifer Lopez, Metallica, Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne, Robbie Williams, Christina Aguilera, Smashing Pumpkins, Lenny Kravitz and Maroon 5 to name but 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 the UK’s 2011 Music Video Awards. The Icon Award was presented to him by Nick Rhodes and Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran.
His recent music videos include 'Doom And Gloom' for The Rolling Stones, and 'The Daylight Project' for Maroon 5. 'Girl Panic' for Duran Duran got a lot of publicity and attention for having Naomi Campbell, Helena Christensen, Eva Herzigova, Cindy Crawford and Yasmin Le Bon representing the iconic band members in their latest work. The video was in cooperation with Harper’s Bazaar, who did a cover story about the models and the video.
His first feature film, 'Spun', starring Jason Schwartzmann, Brittany Murphy, John Leguizamo, Mena Suvari and Mickey Rourke premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. Jonas’ third film, 'Horsemen', starring Dennis Quaid and Zhang Ziyi was financed by Mandate Pictures and produced by Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes. Horsemen premiered in 2009.
His art projects include creating and directing a circus in Stockholm during the Stockholm Cultural Year of 1998. Jonas has had exhibitions in Frankfurt and Seoul and in 2006 the exhibition: “A Jonas Åkerlund Experience” was shown in Stockholm.
In 2009 alone Jonas directed “Place” – Featuring Mihkail Barysnikov and Ana Laguna for television, made an introduction film “Abba World” dedicated to the famous Swedish pop group Abba that is now showcased in their Abba World Tour, and ended the year collaborating with well known artist Francesco Vezzoli by directing “Moca”, a film about the musical held at the Los Angeles Moca museum’s 30th anniversary - Featuring Lady Gaga and the Ballet Russo.
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 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.
His first feature film, “Spun”, starring Jason Schwartzmann, Brittany Murphy, John Leguizamo, Mena Suvari and Mickey Rourke premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival. Jonas' most recent film, “Horsemen”, starring Dennis Quaid and Zhang Ziyi was financed