Colin Tilley


Colin Tilley is an American filmmaker, music video director, and television commercial director. Tilley is the CEO and owner of Boy in the Castle Productions. He has directed more than 300 music videos.
Tilley directed, produced, and executive produced his first short film, Mr. Happy, starring Chance the Rapper, in 2014 and is developing several other film projects in Los Angeles, California. Tilley has produced, written and directed television commercials, including Balmain, Reebok, Yves Saint Laurent, Antonio Banderas, Kylie Jenner's "Glosses", Audi, and Nicki Minaj's perfume, Pink Friday.
Tilley has also produced and directed music videos for Kendrick Lamar, Cardi B, Justin Bieber, J Balvin, The Kid LAROI, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, The Game, Enrique Iglesias, Iggy Azalea, Post Malone, Zendaya, Megan Thee Stallion, Justin Timberlake, Ciara, 50 Cent, Tyga, Lil Wayne, Karol G, Halsey, Skrillex, DJ Snake, Lisa, Rosé and Britney Spears, among others.
Tilley directed If I Can't Have Love I Want Power, a concept feature film starring Halsey. The film was released August 25, 2021. Tilley was honored at Camerimage in November 2021 for Achievement in Music Videos. Tilley created an NFT called Castle Kids in December 2021. In 2025, Tilley made his feature-length directorial debut with Eye for an Eye, also known as Night Terror in the UK, which is an adaptation from the horror adult book Mr.Sandman by Elisa Victoria.

Videography

;2009
;2010
;2011
;2012
;2013
;2014
;2015
;2016
;2017
;2018
;2019
;2020
;2021
;2022
;2024
;2025

Films

Awards and nominations

YearWorkAwardResultRef
2011"Look at Me Now" by Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Busta RhymesBET Award for Video of the YearWon
2011"Look at Me Now" by Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Busta RhymesBET Hip Hop Award for Best Hip Hop VideoWon
2011"Look at Me Now" by Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Busta RhymesMTV [Video Music Award for Best Hip Hop Video]
2011"Look at Me Now" by Chris Brown featuring Lil Wayne and Busta RhymesMTV Video Music Award for Best Collaboration
2011"Deuces" by Chris Brown featuring Tyga and Kevin McCallMTV Video Music Award for Best Collaboration
2011"U Smile" by Justin BieberMTV Video Music Award for Best Male VideoWon
2013"What About Love" by Austin MahoneMTV Video Music Award for Artist to WatchWon
2014BET Hip Hop Award for Director of the Year
2015"Anaconda" by Nicki MinajBET Award for Video of the Year
2015"Anaconda" by Nicki MinajMTV Video Music Award for Best Hip Hop VideoWon
2015"Anaconda" by Nicki MinajMTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video
2015"Alright" by Kendrick LamarGrammy Award for Best Music Video
2015"Alright" by Kendrick LamarMTV Video Music Award for Best DirectionWon
2015"Alright" by Kendrick LamarMTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year
2015"Alright" by Kendrick LamarMTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video
2015"Alright" by Kendrick LamarMTV Video Music Award for Best Hip Hop Video
2015"Alright" by Kendrick LamarMTV EMA for Best Video
2015"Alright" by Kendrick LamarCamerimage Film Festival for Video of the YearWon
2015"Alright" by Kendrick LamarCamerimage Film Festival for Best CinematographyWon
2015"Alright" by Kendrick LamarUK Music Video Award for Best Urban VideoWon
2015"Alright" by Kendrick LamarUK Music Video Award for Video of the YearWon
2015"Alright" by Kendrick LamarUK Music Video Award for Best CinematographyWon
2015"Alright" by Kendrick LamarUK Music Video Award for Director of the Year
2016"M.I.L.F. $" by FergieMTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction
2016"I Wanna Know" by Alesso featuring Nico & VinzMTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography
2016"I Wanna Know" by Alesso featuring Nico & VinzMTV Video Music Award for Best Editing
2016BET Hip Hop Award for Director of the Year
2016Alright by Kendrick LamarBerlin Music Video Awards 2016 for Best DirectorWon
2017"Wild Thoughts" by DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson TillerBET Hip Hop Award for Video of the Year
2017"Wild Thoughts" by DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson TillerMTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year
2017"Wild Thoughts" by DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson TillerMTV Video Music Award for Best Collaboration
2017"Wild Thoughts" by DJ Khaled featuring Rihanna and Bryson TillerMTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction
2017"iSpy" by Kyle and Lil YachtyBET Hip Hop Award for Video of the Year
2017"iSpy" by Kyle and Lil YachtyMTV Video Music Award for Best Visual Effects
2017"Mask Off" by FutureMTV Video Music Award for Best Editing
2017"Mask Off" by FutureMTV EMA for Best Video
2017BET Hip Hop Award for Director of the Year
2019"Tints" by Anderson.Paak featuring Kendrick LamarMTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography
2019MTV Video Music Award for Best Editing
2019"Taki Taki" by DJ Snake featuring Selena Gomez, Ozuna and Cardi BMTV Video Music Award for Best Dance
2020"Blanco" by J BalvinPremios Nuestra Tierra for Best VideoWon
2020"Circles" by Post MaloneMTV Video Music Award for Song of the Year-
2020"RITMO" by Black Eyed Peas featuring J BalvinMTV Video Music Award for Best Collaboration-
2020"You Should Be Sad" by HalseyMTV Video Music Award for Best Pop-
2020"Amarillo" by J BalvinMTV Video Music Award for Best Latin-
2020"Qué Pena" by Maluma featuring J BalvinMTV Video Music Award for Best LatinWon-
2020"Rojo" by J BalvinPremios Juventud for Video with a Powerful MessageWon
2020"Rojo" by J BalvinLatin GRAMMY Award for Best Short Form Music Video-
2020BET Hip Hop Award for Director of the Year
2020"WAP" by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee StallionE! People's Choice Award for The Music Video of 2020-
2020"Holy" by Justin Bieber featuring Chance The RapperE! People's Choice Award for The Music Video of 2020
2020"WAP" by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee StallionMTV EMA for Best Video-
2021"WAP" by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee StallionBerlin Music Video Awards 2021 for Best Art Director
2021"WAP" by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee StallionBET Awards 2021 - Video of the YearWon-
2021BET Awards 2021 - Director of the Year-