Dumas Haddad

Director

Dumas Haddad helms a cinematic feat for British neo-soul duo&nbsp;MRCY, combining a thrilling dance performance with the artists&nbsp;in an intriguing labyrinth-like space.Haddad bends&nbsp;reality in the video for Flicker, as a man - dancer Stefano Saa - unravels with hypnotic physicality inside this remarkable location where&nbsp;doors lead nowhere and hallways fold into themselves.&nbsp;Reality flickers, space and time twist in this cinematic hall of mirrors, pulling the dancer deeper into chaos.Shot through striking wide-angle lenses, the film slips between slow-motion dissociation and bursts of frantic movement. The building in which its set is a mutating, liminal prison of light, geometry, and eerie loops - and becomes a character in itself in the video.With superb cinematography by Courtney Bennett and grade by Thomas Kumeling, it's a substantial achievement which develops an atmosphere of Kubrickian unease with the sporadic appearance of additional characters and creatures adding to the constant disorientation of the central character.And amid the chaos, Haddad also creates an appealing visual&nbsp;showcase for the musical talents of the band, as the action continually pulses with the track's beat.&nbsp;Hypnotic as its surreal, it's a&nbsp;very welcome return to music videos.[imgtoken data:1][imgtoken data:2]

United Kingdom

Ranya Refaey

Stefano Saa

Morgan Faverty

Tate Abbott

Shan Phearon

Harris Elliot

Jonny Boomer

Courtney Bennett

Mitch Kalisa

Murray Boden

Daniel Deighton

Fabienne Piolini-Castle

Theophilus Bailey

Kreszend Sackey

Thomas Kumeling

DOMA

Dead Oceans / Secretly Group

Soul

Neo-Soul

MRCY 'Flicker' by Dumas Haddad

Mrcy-'Flicker'-by-Dumas-Haddad

Celebrating the return of the collective who were prime movers in grime music during the 2000s, Dumas Haddad situates the new music project by Ruff Sqwad within the context of their early days with a marvellous music film.In Haddad's 16 minute short-cum-extended music video for the trio's new project Flee FM, Ruff Sqwad members Slix, Prince Rapid and Dirty Danger perform the EP's seven tracks in the evocative setting of a pirate radio station - a nostalgic homage to the crucial role played by stations like Deja Vu FM, Rinse FM&nbsp;and Heat FM in the development of grime in the Noughties, when the collective were emerging from the same East London neighbourhood as Wiley and Dizzee Rascal.[imgtoken data:1]Beautifully shot by Courtney Bennett and graded by Jason Wallis, with production design by Jade Adeyemi and sound design by Bankey&nbsp;Ojo, Haddad allows the trio's performances to take centre stage and flourish naturalistically within a cinematic setting.The performances are punctuated with additional material - phone-ins, radio stings, shots of nighttime East London, to heighten the sense that Ruff Sqwad have come back with their own pirate station, Flee FM, and hit the airwaves once more - old school vibes that we need right now. The results are compelling.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:2]&nbsp;This was clearly a labour of love for Haddad, who experienced the rise of grime culture at close quarters as a youngster, and was very aware of the importance of Ruff Sqwad within that story."In crafting this film, my primary aim was to immerse audiences in the visceral and clandestine world of pirate radio, a realm that defined London's youth culture in the early 2000s, specifically bringing them back to the derelict, illegal spaces where this vibrant, DIY movement thrived," he says.Haddad, who&nbsp;addressed the impact of how government cracked down on the&nbsp;pirate radio revolution in his 2019 short film&nbsp;The Gift,&nbsp;points out that the authentic evidence of this world was only ever captured on&nbsp;DV tapes at the time.&nbsp;"These tapes now stand as our visual relic—a testament to the raw energy that permeated those illicit broadcasts."[imgtoken data:3]Hence his desire to pay tribute properly to the original pirate radio era, beautifully recreated here by transporting the audience to the days of FM dials, phone-ins, Avirex jackets, Evisu denim and, of course, Nokia phones."Being a Ruff Sqwad fanatic, collaborating with them on this project is not just an honour but a milestone, bringing my journey full circle," explains Haddad.&nbsp;"Through this film, I aim to capture and immortalize the untamed spirit of grime's formative years, paying tribute to the era that shaped the genre, and in turn, shaped me."&nbsp;

Jade Adeyemi

Simon Oxley

Georgia Rae Sterling-Grant

CURATED LONDON

Dale Healy

Dan Deighton

Ryan Rae

Jason Wallis

Electric Theatre Collective

Bankey Ojo

Ruff Sqwad 'Flee FM' by Dumas Haddad

Ruff-Sqwad-'Flee-Fm-'-by-Dumas-Haddad

Dumas Haddad directs an impressive conceptual promo for Kojey Radical, featuring Lex Amor.&nbsp;A succinct, introspective synopsis details the world in the film - "Burdened with the foresight of truth, an enlightened Kojey preaches to ignorant souls, hiding in stark black and white from the volatile truth facing them outside. Kojey begins to turn their ignorance around, enriching them into the world’s true colours before impending doom."Masterfully executed, the surreal vignettes clash against with one another, creating a tension which reflects the pressure in the track. The performances are both haunting and assured, tying together the more abstract elements to create one artistic whole.&nbsp;

Aidan Robert Brooks

Agile Films

Precious Mahaga

Ayo Alli

Sam Barnham

Jake Gabbay

James Robert Hills

William Crafts

Kieran Brown

Aga Dziedzic

Leon Carlton

Myles Bevan

Time Based Arts

Alizee Levrino

Michael Adeyeye Jaeho Hwang

OB Management

Untold Studios

Atlantic Records

Sana Khan

Gary Kent

Kojey Radical ft Lex Amor 'War Outside' by Dumas Haddad 

Kojey-Radical--'War-Outside-'-by-Dumas-Haddad-

Following&nbsp;their collaboration on Chicken Lemon Rice,&nbsp;Priya Ragu reunites with director Dumas Haddad on the striking promo for Lockdown.&nbsp;The&nbsp;dystopian visual concept highlights two dancers, who are&nbsp;tied to platforms in the vast desolation of an empty quarry. They’re overseen by Priya, who plays two characters: the authoritative Priya, an edgy and charismatic personality who relishes the opportunity to keep the two dancers restrained; and also the sensitive ‘lockdown’ Priya, who is open to other possibilities.The two dancers use the power and imagination of their choreography to help triumph over their differences. It’s a representation of how society can only find unity via compromise and understanding.Dazzingly vibrant and punchy, the video is&nbsp;a brilliant showcase of interpretive movement and slick cinematography, and the location lends itself to the post-apocalyptic tone of the concept.&nbsp;

Abiola Rufai

Olan Collardy

Michael Hannides

Conor Maloney Hill

Vini Curtis

Jake Hunte

Wilson Fok

Bari Khalique

Oliver Whitworth

Dom Mckiernan

Warner Music

Priya Ragu 'Lockdown' by Dumas Haddad 

Priya-Ragu--'Lockdown-'-by-Dumas-Haddad-

Dumas Haddad directs a conceptual short film for Lola Young's new EP, entitled After Midnight.Haddad's film is a visual showcase of several different tracks, all corresponding with different times in the early morning. It's also&nbsp;a journey through a whirlwind of raw emotions.&nbsp;Beautifully constructed and cut together - with Haddad working as both director and editor - the video represents a sense of polarity, both in subject matter and more literally in the visuals;&nbsp;inside vs outside, restrained vs free, love vs loss.&nbsp;A terrific piece of art, tied together with powerful spoken-word poetry from&nbsp;Thea Gajic.[imgtoken data:1]

Chris Starkey

Callum Reeve

Sarah Cotterell

Richard Sloan

Sophie Emmett

Alex Price

Lucy Gibson

Aaron Hackett

Lisa Foo

A Day One

Island Records

Lola Young 'After Midnight' by Dumas Haddad 

Lola-Young--'After-Midnight-'-by-Dumas-Haddad-

Agile Films have announced the signing of Dumas Haddad to their directors roster for music videos and commercials.Haddad has already built a strong reputation for himself within the music and fashion worlds, shooting commercials for Guerlain &amp; Footlocker x Fifa, as well as promos for Ghetts, Anaïs, Lonepsi and most recently rising star Priya Ragu. He has numerous accolades under his belts, including Vimeo Staff Picks, Kinsale Shark, Berlin Commercial and 1.4 On The Cusp of Greatness selection.Based in London, Haddad excels in creating culturally resonant films, often turning&nbsp;his attention to reframing modern cultural narratives, using his sophisticated eye and natural story-telling ability to subvert expectation - frequently collaborating with DoP Olan Collardy to create texturally rich pieces which defy categorisation."I’ve been a fan of Dumas' work for a long time, so the possibility to work with him moving forward is an exciting prospect for me," says&nbsp;Precious Mahaga, Agile Films'&nbsp;Head of Music. "Dumas has been ahead of his time in pushing the boundaries of narrative, and I’m particularly impressed with the multi-dimensional way he portrays people of colour - an approach that resonates with me personally. He’s smart, detailed, and brings a beautiful nuance to all of his work. I’m excited for the world to see him progress even further."&nbsp;Dumas Haddad adds: "I’m exceedingly thrilled to join the Agile family and I felt an immediate kinship to Precious, Sana [Khan], Myles [Payne, Agile MD] and the team and fantastic work they've been doing. The team are true visionaries with a resounding ethos and astuteness in developing their talents, so I’m more than excited for this partnership.”• Watch Dumas Haddad showreel at Agile Films <a href="https://agilefilms.com/directors/music-videos/dumas-haddad/" target="_blank">here</a>

Agile Films sign Dumas Haddad 

Dumas Haddad celebrates Priya Ragu's vibrant take on her Sri Lankan heritage in this blazingly colourful&nbsp;video for Chicken Lemon Rice.Having worked with the singer on two other songs in a live session for the Live At The Archives series, Haddad - recently signed to FAMILIA for music videos - shot the official video for&nbsp;Chicken Lemon Rice in a beautifully dramatic and damaged house over in West London, close to where Priya was isolating during her stay in the UK before Christmas.&nbsp;With an emphasis on Priya's charismatic performance, supported by a glamourous cast of extras&nbsp;and a stunning take on South Asian fashion, Haddad delivers an exciting visual flavour to the singer's&nbsp;blend of East and West musical styles.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;FAMILIA head of music Ryan Morgan says the inspiration behind the aesthetic of the video came out of conversations between the Priya, Haddad, management, label commissioners Dom McKiernon and Lottie Llewellyn, and himself. "It was clear from the very beginning that Priya wanted to showcase her Sri Lankan heritage in the most organic way by introducing certain colour palettes, dance movements and art elements to accent the details of the vibrancy of Sri Lankan culture," he explains.[imgtoken data:1]"Dumas and Priya collaborated on boards with art director Jade Adeyemi and stylist Neesha Tulsi Champaneria to make sure we included authentic textures, fabrics and patterns throughout the set design and outfits for each character within the video."Dumas Haddad adds:&nbsp;“Collaborating with Priya and her team was beyond enriching, as we were able to shape our vision together to create a collective consciousness around the video."The song has a beautiful blend of styles and Priya’s heritage, so we were certainly keen to touch on these flavours on screen, in a unique and exciting blend. Our aim was to create a visual that was true to Priya whilst pushing our boundaries."

Ryan Morgan

FAMILIA

Toby Walsham

Natalie Steiner

Luke Goodrich

Courtney J Bennett

Oliver Bingham

Klara Rychtarcikova

Jamie Hitchens

Neesha Tulsi Champaneria

Lisa Laudat

Bari Kalique

Jonny Tully

Tag Collective Arts

Katie Gillard

Warner Music UK

Jessica Summer

Holly Dawkins

Priya Ragu 'Chicken Lemon Rice' by Dumas Haddad

Priya Ragu - Chicken Lemon Rice (Official Video)

Lonepsi is haunted by regret in Dumas Haddad's video for&nbsp;Je Suis Partout Où Que J’aille.&nbsp;Meditating on the idea of missed opportunities and reliving memories on a loop, the poignant video depicts the artist travelling around lonely roads alongside a teenage version of himself. Sharing emotions as well as physical space, the pair join forces to fight their anxieties and create a better path forward.

France

Pierre Signoret

Partizan

Auguste Bas

Clara Mulot

Jonny Thorpe

Glassworks

B.art Studio

Mouthpiece

Hip Hop

Lonepsi 'Je Suis Partout Où Que J’aille' by Dumas Haddad

Lonepsi-'Je-Suis-Partout-Où-Que-J’aille'-by-Dumas-Haddad

Designed around singer-songwriter Azekel's album Our Father, Dumas Haddad's impressionistic&nbsp;film expands on the underlying themes the album touches, interrogating and challenges stereotypes surrounding the role of the black father in modern society.The film, beautifully photographed by Olan Collardy,&nbsp;is underscored by a mix of sound-beds from the album, features Azekel as the lead, and accompanied by the rich tones of artist and poet Sophia Thakur. Thakur’s voice is heard on the film itself – highlighting a mother’s perspective of the battle that she sees these "superheroes" going through.

Adeleke O'Adelight

Byusgroup Films

Kairo Jones

Peter Oppersdorff

Leianna Campbell

Azekel,

Thunderlightning Recordings

Singer-songwriter

Azekel 'Fathers' by Dumas Haddad

Azekel-'Fathers'-by-Dumas-Haddad

Dumas Haddad&#39;s video for&nbsp;Anaïs follows a young man on a journey of discovery, where he finds out the&nbsp;hard way that the world isn&#39;t the bed of roses he thought it would be.&nbsp;Haddad combines an engaging narrative with a richly colourful look for Lost My Faith, and manages to&nbsp;add an exotic flavour to a UK-set shoot.&quot;We shot on 35mm film to bring soul and warmth to this story and also make our timeline ominous,&quot; he says. &quot;Our styling and locations blend the past and present day, as our characters are dealing with racial conflicts that are as prevalent in today&rsquo;s climate, as they have been historically.&quot;

Cream Soda Productions

Gary Long

Milo Brown

Ana Baldini

Ola Ebiti

Virginie Moreira

Mata Labs

Alex Gregory

The Mill

Virgin EMI

Anaïs 'Lost My Faith' by Dumas Haddad

Anaïs - Lost My Faith

Jerome Thomas faces up to a terrifying fate with poise and dignity, in Dumas Haddad's&nbsp;cinematic&nbsp;story of love and retribution.The singer is prone on a beach and we soon realise his predicament - mortally wounded, tied by rope by his vengeful captors. A flashback then reveals his crime of a forbidden love affair, before a climaxThis atmospheric piece for Bruises, with photography by Olan Collardy,&nbsp;is described by director Haddid as a "grindhouse&nbsp;Afro-Futurist Western", and there is a definitely an element of Tarantino in the portrayal of cruelty.But it's also testiment to a remarkable British summer that this sun-kissed, widescreen piece that suggests the American Deep South, was actually shot in Margate, and its surroundings.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Louis The Hippie

Terrence Wilkins

Bly Richards

Charlotte Toon

Christina Zhovnaruk

Arthur Graham-Maw

Emanate Studios

Jerome Thomas 'Bruises' by Dumas Haddad

Jerome-Thomas-'Bruises-'-by-Dumas-Haddad

Imagine falling through the front door of a house party whilst on acid... nothing is as it seems in RVBBERDUCK&#39;s video for Randolph&#39;s Slow Motion, featuring KSI.And this one comes with an advisory message for epilepsy sufferers, due to relentlessly serious strobing action. So keep those sunglasses handy while watching this one.&nbsp;

Dumas Haddad

Director

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