Melina Matsoukas is a Greek American director of music videos and commercials. She is a Grammy Award winner for her “We Found Love” video clip with Rihanna. She is known as the queen of videoclips and she has directed Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Jeniffer Lopez, Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry and many more.

She was born on January 14, 1981. Matsoukas is of Greek, Jewish, Jamaican and Cuban descent. Both her name and surname are Greek. She earned her degree at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and completed her graduate work at the American Film Institute (MFA in cinematography). Her graduate thesis was on music videos.

Matsoukas started out at Black Dog Film, then the now-defunct Gorilla Flix film production company, and is currently a director at Prettybird, which she has been signed to since 2011.

She is the first female director to win MTV’s prestigious Best Video Award for Rihanna’s “We Found Love,” which also earned her a Grammy for Best Long Form Music Video, Melina’s work continues to captivate audiences worldwide – and with over a billion cumulative views on YouTube, numerous critical acclaim, she has established herself in a league truly of her own.

Her short film Negros Negros was nominated for a DGA Award, and she was honored as Director of the Year at the 2009 MVPA Awards. More recently, Melina has earned numerous awards including Best Pop Video at the MVPAs, UK MVAs People’s Choice Award and the BET Viewer’s Choice Award. She has been nominated for the London International Award and was a finalist for a Ciclope. In 2013, Melina’s “Losing You” video for Solange won Best Pop Video at the UK MVAs, as well as Best Direction of a Female Artist and Best Direction of a New Artist at the MVPAs. Her video for Beyonce’s “Pretty Hurts” won the 2014 VMA for Best Video with a Social Message.

Her work is described as, “chalk full of bright colors or crisp black and white images, smooth spotlights, and tasteful retro video models.”

Matsoukas says that expensive equipment is not necessary for a quality video and one should never think that way.

“A good video has the right visuals, a well conceptualised story and should be exciting and elicit reaction.” Melina said.

Melina Matsoukas, who has directed eight Beyoncé videos since 2007, directed this highly conceptual video. She won a Grammy for Rihanna’s ‘We Found Love’ video, and also directed Solange’s ‘Losing You’ and ‘I Decided,’ Ciara’s ‘Work’ (feat. Missy Elliot) and Jay Z’s ‘Run.’ Matsoukas will make her TV directing debut with Issa Rae’s upcoming HBO comedy series, ‘Insecure.’ Without a doubt, ‘Formation’ has elicited a reaction from millions across the globe, and accurately reflects the times that we are living in today.

Melina has gone on, and continues to direct high-end commercials for global clients such as Nike, Adidas, Coca-Cola, Diesel, DirectTV, Lexus, Toyota, Rexona, Target and Absolut to name just a few.