2016 Announcement

OCTOBER 7, 2015

PRISM PRIZE RETURNS FOR YEAR FOUR Introduces Top 20 • Grand Prize Doubled to $10,000

The Prism Prize returns for the fourth consecutive year to announce the Grand Prize for Best Canadian Music Video of the Year will be doubled to $10,000!   Traditionally held in March, the Prism Prize Awards Presentation will move to Sunday, May 15, 2016 once again held at TIFF Bell Lightbox. This move is prompted by the introduction of the first-ever Prism Prize Top 20, which will allow for further recognition of deserving Canadian videos, filmmakers, and artists.   "2015 has been the strongest year for Canadian music videos ever. We are happy to spotlight 20 amazing videos, before announcing our Top Ten,” says Louis Calabro, Prism Prize Director. "The support Prism Prize has received from industry partners and the public for the past four years is another sign of Canadians being at the top of their game in the music and media arts environment.”   The Prism Prize will announce the Top 20 on Tuesday, February 9, 2016, while the Top Ten will be announced on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, followed by the Prism Prize Screening and Awards Presentation on Sunday, May 15, 2016 at TIFF Bell Lightbox.   The Prism Prize Screening and Awards Presentation will include a screening of the Top Ten videos, and award presentations including: the Special Achievement Award (presented by NewCanadianMusic.ca) for artistic achievements and exceptional contribution to music video art; the Arthur Lipsett Award for innovative and unique approaches to music video art; the Audience Award (presented by Noisey Canada); and the Grand Prize for Best Canadian Music Video of the Year.   All Prism Prize Award recipients, including the Grand Prize, Audience Award, Prism Prize Special Achievement Award and the Arthur Lipsett Award, will receive $2000 vouchers from William F. White for production equipment rentals, and an exclusive gift bag from MAC Cosmetics.   The Grand Prize is decided by a jury of over 120 Canadian music, film and media arts professionals. Videos are judged on originality, creativity, style, innovation and effective execution. Any Canadian music video, as defined by the CRTC, released between January 1 and December 31, 2015 may be considered for entry.   Past Prism Prize winners for Best Canadian Music Video of the Year include Noah Pink for Rich Aucoin’s Brian Wilson is A.L.i.V.E (2013), Emily Kai Bock for Arcade Fire's Afterlife (2014), and Chad VanGaalen for Timber Timbre's Beat The Drum Slowly (2015).   Prism Prize is proud to host a comprehensive resource for music fans to watch the best Canadian music videos all in one place. Videos and news from Canada’s music video community are available throughout the year at www.prismprize.com.

Top Ten Announcement

February 10, 2015

Short-List Announcement For Best Canadian Music Video of 2014 THE PRISM PRIZE TOP TEN

The Prism Prize is thrilled to announce the Top Ten Best Canadian Music Videos of 2014, as voted by a jury of more than 120 industry professionals from the worlds of music, film, broadcast and web media. After viewing hundreds of music videos released in 2014, jurors selected the Prism Prize Top Ten based on originality, creativity, style, innovation and effective execution.

The jury will vote once more to determine the Prism Prize winner, who will receive a $5,000 Grand Prize at the Awards Presentation on March 29, 2015 at TIFF Bell Lightbox. For the first time ever the Prism Prize Awards Presentation will be open to the public. Tickets are available at www.prismprize.com/tickets

In addition to the Grand Prize announcement, the Prism Prize Awards Presentation will include a screening of the Top Ten videos, sponsored by MuchFACT; and presentation of the Audience Choice Award, Presented by Noisey Canada; the Prism Prize Special Achievement Award for artistic achievements and exceptional contribution to music  video art on a world stage; and the Arthur Lipsett Award, Presented by Art Works Art School, for innovative and unique approaches to music video art.

THE 2015 PRISM PRIZE TOP TEN (in alphabetical order, by director name):

The New Pornographers - Dancehall Domine (Directors: Scott Cudmore and Michael LeBlanc) PUP - Guilt Trip (Directors: Chandler Levack and Jeremy Schaulin-Rioux) Fur Trade - Same Temptation (Director: Kheaven Lewandowski) Rich Aucoin - Yelling in Sleep (Director: Joel Mackenzie) Ryan Hemsworth - Snow in Newark (Director: Martin C. Pariseau) Kandle - Not Up to Me (Director: Natalie Rae Robison) Kevin Drew - You in Your Were (Director: Samir Rehem) Odonis Odonis - Order in the Court (Director: Lee Stringle) Chad VanGaalen - Monster (Director: Chad VanGaalen) Timber Timbre - Beat the Drum Slowly (Director: Chad VanGaalen)

The Prism Prize Top Ten videos are live here at www.prismprize.com, where fans can watch and vote on who will take home this year’s Audience Award.

Past Prism Prize winners for Best Canadian Music Video of the Year include Noah Pink for Rich Aucoin’s Brian Wilson is A.L.i.V.E (2012) and Emily Kai Bock for Arcade Fire's Afterlife (2013).

www.prismprize.com • @prismprize • www.facebook.com/prismprize

YEAR TWO WINNERS

MARCH 23, 2014  

EMILY KAI BOCK Director of Afterlife by Arcade Fire wins Best Canadian Music Video at PRISM PRIZE AWARD RECEPTION

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On Sunday, March 23, director Emily Kai Bock was announced as the winner of the 2014 Prism Prize for Arcade Fire's Afterlife music video at the Prism Prize Award Reception at The Everleigh in Toronto, Ontario. Emily Kai Bock, who was also nominated for Majical Cloudz's Childhood's End this year, was on hand to accept the $5,000.

"Emily made some truly remarkable videos last year," said Prism Prize Founder and Director Louis Calabro, "it says something that two of Emily's pieces were on the Top Ten Shortlist. Ultimately, I think our jurors chose Afterlife because it's thoughtful and well-paced, and because - frankly - it looks beautiful."

The Prism Prize Audience Choice Award was presented to director Kheaven Lewandowski for The Belle Game's River, based on thousands of online votes collected in collaboration with Exclaim! Magazine.

"I expect really big things from Kheaven in the future." said Louis Calabro, "The Belle Game's song is so resonant on its own, but Kheaven found a way to dress it up and connect sound with image in this stylish, and cleverly arranged short narrative. And clearly the fans agree; this video got about 30% of the votes!"

Also honoured during the Prism Prize Award Reception were Writer/Director Scott Cudmore and Producer/Cinematographer Michael Leblanc, who were in attendance to accept the inaugural Arthur Lipsett Award, established to recognize an innovative and unique approach to music video art. The inaugural Prism Prize Special Achievement Award, presented to a Canadian music video artist for their artistic achievements and exceptional contribution to music video art on a world stage, was awarded to Floria Sigismondi, who provided a taped acceptance speech as she was unable to attend in person.

Plans for the third annual Prism Prize will be announced later this year. For a complete round-up of year two, click here.

EMILY KAI BOCK réalisatrice du clip Afterlife d’Arcade Fire gagne le Prisme du meilleur vidéoclip canadien lors de la remise des Prix PRISME

La réalisatrice Emily Kai Bock a été désignée gagnante du Prix Prisme 2014 pour son vidéoclip d’Afterlife, du groupe Arcade Fire, lors de la soirée de remise des Prix Prisme, au Club Everleigh de Toronto, dimanche dernier, 23 mars. Emily Kai Bock, qui était également en nomination pour le vidéoclip de Childhood’s End, de Majical Cloudz, était présente pour recevoir le prix de 5000 $.

« Emily a réalisé des vidéoclips vraiment remarquables l’an dernier, » a rappelé Louis Calabro, fondateur et directeur des Prix Prisme. « Ce n’est pas anodin que deux de ses réalisations figurent parmi les dix finalistes. Finalement, je crois que les jurés ont choisi Afterlife pour son message, son rythme soutenu et parce que, franchement, c’est un beau vidéoclip. » Le Prix du Public a été remis au réalisateur Kheaven Lewandowski pour River, de The Belle Game, après le décompte de milliers de votes en ligne recueillis en collaboration avec le magazine Exclaim!

« Je crois que l’avenir réserve de très grandes choses pour Kheaven, » a déclaré Louis Calabro. « Même si la chanson de The Belle Game a une grande résonance, Kheaven a trouvé le moyen de l’enjoliver et de l’interpréter en images avec style et brio par ce court récit. Manifestement, les fans pensent la même chose puisque cette vidéo a obtenu environ 30 % des votes! »

La Soirée de remise des Prix Prisme a aussi permis de saluer le travail de l’auteur-réalisateur Scott Cudmore et du producteur-cinéaste Michael Leblanc, qui étaient présents pour recevoir le tout premier prix Arthur Lipsett, qui souligne l’approche novatrice et unique d’un créateur canadien à l’art du vidéoclip. Remis pour la première fois, le Prisme Hommage, qui récompense un créateur canadien de vidéoclip pour ses réalisations artistiques et sa contribution exceptionnelle à l’art du vidéoclip sur la scène mondiale, est allé à Floria Sigismondi, qui avait enregistré ses remerciements sur vidéo à défaut de pouvoir assister à la soirée.

Les projets entourant la troisième édition des Prix Prisme seront annoncés plus tard cette année. Les nouvelles et les créations provenant de la communauté canadienne du vidéoclip sont accessibles en tout temps au www.prismprize.com.