Prism Prize
The Prism Prize is a national juried award recognizing the artistry of the modern music video in Canada. A jury of over 120 Canadian music and film industry professionals, including members of the print and web media, broadcasting, film, radio, and video art communities, nominate the 10 best videos of the year to comprise the Prism Prize shortlist. The winning video receives a cash prize of $20,000. This is the richest cash prize for music videos in North America.
Founded by Louis Calabro in 2012, the award is administered by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
The inaugural Prism Prize was awarded in March 2013 to director Noah Pink for Rich Aucoin’s "Brian Wilson Is A.L.I.V.E", while director Vincent Morisset took home the Audience Award for Arcade Fire’s "Sprawl II".
For the second award presentation in 2014, the Prism Prize introduced two new awards, the Special Achievement Award for artistic achievements and exceptional contribution to music video art on a world stage, and the Arthur Lipsett Award for innovative and unique approaches to music video art.
The 2014 Prism Prize was presented on March 23, 2014 to director Emily Kai Bock for her Arcade Fire "Afterlife" video. The Audience Award went to director Kheaven Lewandowski for his video for "River" by The Belle Game. The Arthur Lipsett Award was presented to Scott Cudmore and Michael LeBlanc for their innovative video work. The Special Achievement Award went to Floria Sigismondi.
In 2020 the committee introduced the Willie Dunn Award, a lifetime achievement award honouring Canadians who have been trailblazers in the art of music video. The award was named in memory of Willie Dunn, an indigenous Canadian musician whose 1968 animated short film The Ballad of Crowfoot has sometimes been credited as the first Canadian music video.
Winners and nominees
2013
Nominees were announced on February 14, 2013, and the winners were announced on March 24.- Prism Prize: Rich Aucoin, "Brian Wilson Is A.L.I.V.E."
- Audience Award: Arcade Fire - "Sprawl II "
- Drake - "HYFR "
- Grimes - "Genesis"
- Grimes - "Oblivion"
- METZ - "Wet Blanket"
- Mother Mother - "The Sticks"
- Maylee Todd - "Baby's Got It"
- Yamantaka // Sonic Titan - "Hoshi Neko"
- Young Rival - "Two Reasons"
2014
- Prism Prize: Arcade Fire - "Afterlife"
- Audience Award: The Belle Game – "River"
- Arcade Fire – "Reflektor"
- Drake – "Started from the Bottom"
- Hollerado – "So It Goes"
- Keys N Krates – "Dum Dee Dum"
- Jessy Lanza – "Kathy Lee"
- Majical Cloudz – "Childhood’s End"
- Shad – "Fam Jam "
- Young Galaxy – "New Summer"
2015
- Prism Prize: Timber Timbre, "Beat the Drum Slowly"
- Audience Award: Kandle, "Not Up to Me"
- The New Pornographers, "Dancehall Domine"
- PUP, "Guilt Trip"
- Fur Trade, "Same Temptation"
- Rich Aucoin, "Yelling in Sleep"
- Ryan Hemsworth, "Snow in Newark"
- Kevin Drew, "You in Your Were"
- Odonis Odonis, "Order in the Court"
- Chad VanGaalen, "Monster"
2016
Shortlist
- Prism Prize: Kalle Mattson, "Avalanche"
- Audience Award: Death From Above 1979, "Virgins"
- Arthur Lipsett Award: Kristof Brandl
- A Tribe Called Red, "Suplex"
- Braids, "Miniskirt"
- Drake, "Hotline Bling"
- The Elwins, "So Down Low"
- The Fast Romantics, "Julia"
- Grimes, "Flesh Without Blood"
- Harrison, "How Can It Be"
- Monogrenade, "Le Fantôme"
Longlist
2017
Winners
- Prism Prize: Kaytranada, "Lite Spots"
- Audience Award: Andy Shauf, "The Magician"
- Lipsett Prize: Kid
- Hi-Fidelity Award: July Talk
- Special Achievement: Revolver Films
Shortlist
Longlist
2018
Winners
- Prism Prize: Charlotte Day Wilson, "Work"
- Audience Award: Daniel Caesar, "Freudian, A Visual"
- Hi-Fidelity Award: Grimes
- Lipsett Award: Karena Evans, making her the first woman to win the award
- Special Achievement Award: '''Cherie Sinclair'''
Shortlist
Longlist
2019
Winners
- Prism Prize: The Belle Game, "Low"
- Audience Award: Said the Whale, "UnAmerican"
- Hi-Fidelity Award: Clairmont the Second, "Gheeze"
- Lipsett Award: Soleil Denault
- Special Achievement Award: '''Lacey Duke'''
Shortlist
Longlist
2020
The longlist for the 2020 Prism Prize was announced in February 2020, with the shortlist originally slated to be announced on April 2 and the winner to be announced on May 11. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, however, the prize committee cancelled the May 11 event, and postponed the announcement of the winners to July 22 for the special awards, and July 23 for the topline categories. In addition, they opted not to issue a shortlist, instead announcing that all 20 longlisted nominees would be eligible for the final awards.Winners
- Prism Prize: Jessie Reyez, "Far Away"
- Audience Award: Daniel Caesar ft. Koffee, "CYANIDE REMIX"
- Hi-Fidelity Award: Daniela Andrade
- Lipsett Award: Tranquilo
- Willie Dunn Award: Laurieann Gibson
- Special Achievement Award: '''Bardia Zeinali'''
Longlist
2021
The longlisted nominees for the 2021 Prism Prize were announced on April 29, 2021, with the shortlist announced on June 9 and the winners announced on July 26.Winners
- Prism Prize: Haviah Mighty, "Thirteen"
- Audience Award: Aquakultre, "Pay It Forward"
- Hi-Fidelity Award: Crack Cloud
- Lipsett Award: Gennelle Cruz
- Willie Dunn Award: Leanne Betasamosake Simpson
- Special Achievement Award: Jordan Oram
Shortlist
Longlist
2022
Winners
- Prism Prize: Mustafa, "Ali"
- Audience Award: Khanvict, "Closer"
- Hi-Fidelity Award: Chiiild
- Lipsett Award: Iris Kim
- Willie Dunn Award: Mustafa
- Special Achievement Award: Sammy Rawal
Shortlist
2023
Winners
- Prism Prize: Snotty Nose Rez Kids, "Damn Right"
- Audience Award: Dan Mangan, "Fire Escape"
- Hi-Fidelity Award: Nemahsis
- Lipsett Award: Aimé Irabahaye
- Willie Dunn Award: Sara Elgamal
- Special Achievement Award: Adrian Villagomez
Shortlist
2024
Winners
- Prism Prize: Mustafa, "Name of God"
- Audience Award: Nemahsis, "I Wanna Be Your Right Hand"
- Hi-Fidelity Award: Shy Kids
- Lipsett Award: Jessamine Yú Fok
- Willie Dunn Award: TOBi
- Special Achievement Award: Ethan Tobman
Shortlist