The audiovisual and music industry has been shaken by deeply tragic news. Valentin Petit, renowned director of video clips and commercials, has lost his life in a devastating plane crash in the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel. The accident, which occurred in a region that is difficult to access, also claimed the lives of the pilot and another passenger on board the commercial helicopter. Petit, who was about to celebrate his 33rd birthday, was widely known in the industry for his originality and creative passion.
Petit’s talent led him to work with renowned artists such as RosalÃa and Pharrell Williams, and he directed commercials for major sports brands. His collaborations have left an indelible mark, with projects ranging from music videos to advertising campaigns.
Precisely, one of Petit’s most emblematic works was his collaboration with RosalÃa in the video clip for Saoko, Motomami’s first official single. The video clip, which accumulates more than 72 million views, was shot in Ukraine and nominated for an MTV Video Music Awards in 2022 in the category of best editing.
Outside of the realm of music, Petit made significant inroads into the advertising industry through his own production company, Ocurens. He directed campaigns for well-known brands such as Nike, Puma and Adidas and took over the production of a show for the fashion firm Balmain.
Born in Bourges, a town in France, Petit was an enthusiast of motocross and extreme sports, especially skateboarding, a discipline that he frequently practiced with his friends in his hometown. His parents have shared with dayFREURO that his son was a “passionate and creative” person, and that “she died as he lived, at full speed.”
