Production powerhouse Partizan’s Aisultan Seitov is nominated for MTV’s prestigious VMA Video of the Year Award for 21 Savage’s “a lot” featuring J. Cole. The 2019 VMAs air live on Monday, August 26th at 8pm on MTV.
While fiercely proud of his Kazakh heritage, the directing wunderkind grew up with a fascination of all things American pop culture – hip hop included. After shooting Moscow’s biggest campaign of the year for Coca-Cola at the age of 20, Seitov set off to pursue his Hollywood dream – traveling to LA to direct his debut U.S. video for Offset’s “Red Room.” The runaway hit quickly led to his next project, 21 Savage’s “a lot.”
With a melancholy Godfather-esque vibe, the now-iconic clip for the Moonman hopeful snaps a portrait of family members celebrating around the dining room table before a downward spiral unravels their secrets. Family dynamics, both good and ugly, is a universal undercurrent that Seitov believes transcends all cultures.
Born in 1997, Seitov first made a name for himself directing standout videos for some of the most exciting musical artists in Eastern Europe and Asia. Moving west, he enrolled in the New York Film Academy to continue to obsessively study the craft of filmmaking. Along the way, he amassed a substantial social media following as an influencer with a specific insight about music and international film.
This nomination further solidifies Seitov’s reputation as a leader among the new crowd of creators who integrate cutting-edge creativity and digital savvy with youthful authenticity. His most recent work, “The Lay Down” music video for acclaimed hip hop artist D.R.A.M featuring H.E.R, is a testament to both Seitov’s skill as a director and the respect he commands within the contemporary zeitgeist.
Seitov remarks: “To be part of a generation that sees the world for all its endless possibilities, you can create whatever you dream up. I choose to make music videos – that’s total art for me.” Having built his reputation shooting for some of the world’s hottest musical artists, Seitov has begun to successfully transition his unique skillset into the branded space, having recently created a series of bespoke online content for NIKE featuring the East LA-based basketball foundation Drew League.
Of the rising star, Partizan founder Georges Bermann says, “It’s extremely rare to be blown away by the work of a young, widely unknown director. That’s how I felt when we discovered Ais’ work.” To which Seitov replies, “Partizan is a place that cultivates the passion that lives in each artist. I’m excited to be on board with this stellar creative team for many years to come.”
Seitov joins Partizan for music video, content and commercial work globally.
