Jonas Åkerlund

Hans Uno Jonas Åkerlund is a Swedish filmmaker and musician whose career has spanned more than four decades, beginning in the early 1980s when he briefly played drums for the pioneering black‑metal group Bathory. After leaving the band, he turned his creative energies toward visual storytelling, directing his first music video for Candlemass’s “Bewitched,” a project that marked the start of an extraordinary run as one of the most sought‑after music‑video directors of his generation. Over the years Åkerlund has crafted iconic videos for a staggering roster of artists, including Madonna’s Grammy‑winning “Ray of Light,” which earned him five MTV Video Music Awards and cemented his reputation for blending avant‑garde aesthetics with mainstream appeal. His collaboration with Madonna continued with controversial works such as “American Life” and the documentary I’m Going to Tell You a Secret, showcasing his willingness to push boundaries both visually and thematically. In the late 1990s he ignited further debate with the Prodigy’s “Smack My Bitch Up,” a video notorious for its gritty, unflinching portrayal of drug use and violence, underscoring his knack for provocation. Beyond pop icons, Åkerlund has directed videos for metal legends Rammstein, rock stalwarts The Smashing Pumpkins, and pop‑crossover sensations Lady Gaga and Beyoncé, constantly reshaping the visual language of contemporary music. His work is distinguished by rapid‑cut editing, striking color palettes, and an uncanny ability to translate a song’s emotional core into a vivid cinematic experience.

Transitioning to feature films, Åkerlund made a bold debut with Spun (2002), a hyper‑stylized exploration of drug culture that earned a cult following. He followed with Horsemen (2009) and the quirky Small Apartments (2012), before tackling the true‑crime drama Lords of Chaos (2018), a film that delved into the dark history of Norway’s black‑metal scene—a subject close to his musical roots. Most recently, he directed the Netflix action‑noir Polar (2019), starring Mads Mikkelsen, demonstrating his versatility across genres while retaining his signature high‑energy visual style. Throughout his career, Åkerlund has amassed numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards for Best Music Film, confirming his status as a pioneering figure at the intersection of music, film, and visual art.