The winners of Elton John’s competition to create videos for three of his classic songs were recently revealed at the Cannes Film Festival.
The music icon partnered with YouTube, AKQA and Pulse Films to challenge novice directors to come up with videos for his '70s hits “Tiny Dancer,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and “Rocket Man.”
“These three songs never had videos done for them and they’re all perfect songs for videos,” John says in a video about the contest.
John and songwriting partner Bernie Taupin – along with filmmaker Barry Jenkins, music video director Melina Matsoukas, and studio exec Jeffrey Katzenberg – picked winners from submissions that came from more than 50 countries around the world.
“Tiny Dancer” – Directed by Max Weiland
"LA is a driving town,” Weiland explained. “Its identity is in its highways, its boulevards, its cars and its people. This video is a bitter sweet love letter to the city.”
“Bennie and the Jets” – Jack Whiteley and Laura Brownhill
This video features “breathtaking choreography and striking sci-fi fashion,” according to the description.
“Rocket Man” – Directed by Majid Adin and Stephen McNally
According to a description, Adin – an Iranian refugee to the UK – came up with a “new story of adventure, loneliness and hope.”