The 11th Annual MVPA Awards took a turn for the better this year at the plush surroundings of Hollywood's Kodak Theater.

Andy Dick presented the show singing songs about his asshole as the festive event unfolded. Traktor continued its eclectic presence in the industry by accepting three honors in different tongues.

Traktor's first award was gathered spouting Swedish prose, ignited unexpectedly on the chic crowd from pouted lips. Their second visit onstage came beside an interpreter to assist in their English, while the salacious Swedes then grasped their third award - smoothly delivered in faultless English while explaining that, hey, the Anglo Saxon diction was easy to learn during the past hour.

Marcus Nispel received the Eastman Kodak Award for Lifetime Achievement, surely an odd feeling for a director of 38 years. The prolific director came across as both humble and sweet while delivering anecdotes on his promo experiences. He also took the time to praise the MVPA for its contemporary role in pushing the boundaries of music video production. Nispel's wide ranging oevre has shaped many a groundbreaking promo so the award was well chosen by the MVPA this year.

Other awards of note included Sam Bayer's Hall of Fame Award for his 1991 promo "Smells Like Teen Spirit" although, to Bayer's annoyance, the wrong cut of the video was shown. The video swept the MTV Awards back in 1992 and the recognition was well-deserved considering Bayer's insistence on photographing and art directing his own work (which has stood the test of time upon seeing the promo).

"The MVPA is still a young organization yet they succeed in bringing our industry together," explains hungry man/Palomar director Marcos Siega on the organization and event, up for seven awards that night while nabbing Video of the Year with "Chop Suey" for System of a Down. "There are people in the association putting this event together who don't get paid, yet I have to say they did a fantastic job. It was a little long but an impressive event this year. It's an important affair for the music video industry because we all get together and see what's shaking.

"It's also not televised so you're in a room with your peers and say anything that you want," continues Siega on the atmosphere. "It's so candid at the platform accepting the award; you don't preach, you just let it all out and walk off saying, 'Did I just say that?' to yourself."

A full list of winners can be found at http://www.mvpa.com