ABOUT THE AWARDS
The Prism Prize is a national, juried award established to recognize the artistry of the modern music video in Canada.
A jury of more than 120 Canadian music and film industry professionals – including members of the print/web media, broadcasting, film, radio, and video art communities – has been selected to nominate the 10 best videos of the year to comprise our shortlist.
These jurors are then charged with the task of crowning one video as the winner of the annual Prism Prize, which carries with it a substantial cash reward.The Prism Prize is awarded based on artistic merit. Jurors are asked to consider the following criteria when selecting the best video of the year: Originality, Creativity, Style, Innovation and Effective Execution.
HOW DO I GET NOMINATED?
There is no public entry process for the Prism Prize. The jury make their selections from videos they have seen in their day-to-day work activities, in addition to suggestions provided by Prism Prize staff.
Note that this does not guarantee that your video will appear at prismprize.com. Additionally, please note that the videos collected on this site are included at the discretion of our staff and should not be considered to be a Prism Prize nomination.
Nominated videos* must be considered “Canadian,” fulfilling at least two (2) of the following audio requirements:
a) Music is composed by a Canadian
b) Artist (principal performer) is a Canadian (in the case of a band, 50% of the members must be Canadian)
c) Performance/production is in Canada
d) Lyrics are written by a Canadian
And at least one (1) of the following video components:
e) video director or production company is Canadian
f) video production facilities are located in Canada
*If you have a question regarding eligibility and/or to appeal for consideration, email suggestions@prismprize.com
GRAND PRIZE
Each year, a jury of more than 120 journalists, filmmakers, booking agents, artists and other members of the Canadian music and film industries vote for one Top Ten-nominated music video to win the $20,000 Grand Prize. Jurors watch hundreds of videos each year and voting is ranked according to their favourites.
RECIPIENTS:
2024 - Mustafa - Name of God
2023 - Sterling Larose / Snotty Nose Rez Kids - Damn Right
2022 - Mustafa - Ali
2021 - Theo Kapodistrias / Haviah Mighty - Thirteen
2020 - Peter Huang / Jessie Reyez - Far Away
2019 - Kevan Funk / Belle Game - Low
2018 - Fantavious Fritz / Charlotte Day Wilson - Work
2017 - Martin C. Pariseau / Kaytranada - Lite Spots
2016 - Philip Sportel / Kalle Mattson – Avalanche
2015 - Chad VanGaalen / Timber Timbre – Beat The Drum Slowly
2014 - Emily Kai Bock / Arcade Fire – Afterlife
2013 - Noah Pink / Rich Aucoin – Brian Wilson is A.L.i.V.E.
AUDIENCE AWARD
The Audience Award is voted on by the public at prismprize.com and partner sites. The award was created to highlight the favourite Canadian music video of the year amongst music video lovers across the internet.
RECIPIENTS:
2024 - Nemahsis - i wanna be your right hand
2023 - Lester Lyons-Hookham / Dan Mangan - Fire Escape
2022 - Anjali Nayar / Khanvict - Closer
2021 - Evan Elliot & Lance Sampson / Aquakultre - Pay It Forward
2020 - Keavan Yazdani & Sean Brown / Daniel Caesar ft. Koffee - Cyanide Remix
2019 - Johnny Jansen / Said The Whale - UnAmerican
2018 - Keavan Yazdani & Sean Brown / Daniel Caesar - Freudian, A Visual
2017 - Winston Hacking / Andy Shauf - The Magician
2016 - Eva Michon / Death From Above 1979 - Virgins
2015 - Natalie Rae Robison / Kandle – Not Up To Me
2014 - Kheaven Lewandowski / The Belle Game – River
2013 - Vincent Morisset / Arcade Fire – Sprawl II
LIPSETT AWARD
The Lipsett Award is presented to a Canadian music video artist for their innovative and unique approach to music video art. Arthur Lipsett was a Canadian filmmaker best known for his sound collage films made for the National Film Board of Canada in the 1960s. Lipsett’s unique approach to editing sound and image earned much attention, as well as an Oscar Nomination in 1962 for the film Very Nice, Very Nice.
RECIPIENTS:
2024 - Jessamine Yú Fok
2023 - Aimé Irabahaye
2022 - Iris Kim
2021 - Gennelle Cruz
2020 - tranquilo
2019 - Soleil Denault
2018 - Karena Evans
2017 - KID. STUDIO
2016 - Kristof Brandl
2015 - Jared Raab
2014 - Scott Cudmore & Michael LeBlanc
SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Supported by The Slaight Family Foundation
The Special Achievement Award is presented to a Canadian music video icon for their artistic achievements and exceptional contribution to music video art on a world stage.
RECIPIENTS:
2024 - Ethan Tobman
2023 - Adrian Villagomez
2022 - Sammy Rawal
2021 - Jordan Oram
2020 - Bardia Zeinali
2019 - Lacey Duke
2018 - Cherie Sinclair
2017 - Revolver Films
2016 - Director X
2015 - Christopher Mills
2014 - Floria Sigismondi
HI-FIDELITY AWARD
Supported by Factor Canada
The Hi-Fidelity Award is presented to a recording artist (band or musician) who has used video art to represent their work in a consistently creative and innovative way.
2024 - shy kids
2023 - Nemahsis
2022 - Chiiild
2021 - Crack Cloud
2020 - Daniela Andrade
2019 - Clairmont the Second
2018 - Grimes
2017 - July Talk
THE WILLIE DUNN AWARD
Supported by Telefilm Canada
The Willie Dunn Award is presented to a Canadian trailblazer who has demonstrated excellence within the music, music video and/or film production communities. The recipient is asked to select an emerging Canadian creative who's work will be spotlighted during the Prism Prize presentation. Both recipient and the selected creator will receive cash honourariums of $2500.00.
2024 - TOBi / Niyi Adeogun
2023 - Sara Elgamal / Roya Del Sol
2022 - Mustafa / Puffy L’z
2021 - Leanne Betasamosake Simpson / Beatrice Dear
2020 - LaurieAnn Gibson / Noor Khan
Le prix Prisme Règlements
Admissibilité
Tout vidéoclip canadien diffusé entre le 1er janvier 2024 et le 1er mai 2025 sera considéré comme admissible au Prix Prism 2025. Remarque : le Prix Prisme est décerné par le Jury et n'est pas basé sur une participation du public.
Le jury et le vote
Les membres du jury sont choisis parmi les professionnels qui travaillent dans l’industrie de la musique au Canada. Il peut s’agir de journalistes, de blogueurs, de critiques, d’historiens de la musique, de programmateurs, de diffuseurs ou de personnalités de la radio et de la télévision.
Chaque juré sélectionnera cinq vidéoclips qu’il considère comme les meilleurs de l’année.
À partir de cette sélection, les organisateurs du prix Prisme classeront les vidéoclips en une liste restreinte de 10 œuvres. Ces 10 vidéoclips deviendront le prix Prisme Top Ten, et ils seront en compétition pour le Grand Prix.
Le même jury choisira un gagnant parmi ces 10 vidéoclips.
Les membres du jury ne sont pas autorisés à prendre part au processus s’ils se trouvent en situation de conflit d’intérêts.
Le prix de $20,000 CA en argent sera remis au réalisateur du vidéoclip et partagé entre le réalisateur, et l’artiste ou groupe musical comme suit: 10 000 $ au directeur, 10 000 $ à l'artiste ou groupe.
Le Prix Prism se réserve le droit d’utiliser les vidéoclips des gagnants du Prix Prism « Special Award » et aussi le droit d’utiliser des extraits des vidéoclips du Prix Prism « Top Ten », à perpétuité, pour toute promotion lié au Prix Prism et pour la promotion en générale des vidéoclips canadiens.
Dans le cas d’une égalité dans le dernier tour de scrutin , les résultats du premier tour des votes du jury seront utilisés comme tie-breaker.
Définitions:
Un vidéoclip est réputé « lancé » s’il a été mis à la disposition du public canadien au cours de l’année qui précède l’attribution du prix Prisme. Cela comprend également la distribution par Internet ou par la télévision.
Pour qu’un vidéoclip soit défini comme canadien, il doit comprendre au moins deux (2) des composants audio suivants :
la musique a été composée par un Canadien;
l’artiste (l’interprète principal) est Canadien (dans le cas d’un groupe, 50 % des membres doivent être Canadiens);
le tournage ou la production a été réalisé au Canada;
les paroles ont été écrites par un Canadien;
Et au moins un (1) des composants vidéo suivants :
le directeur est canadien ou la société de production est canadienne
l’adresse de la société de production est située au Canada.
Par « Canadien », on entend un citoyen canadien ou un résident permanent du Canada, conformément à la définition de Citoyenneté et Immigration Canada. Ces Canadiens n’ont pas l’obligation de vivre au Canada pour soumettre leur vidéoclip au concours.
Toutes les décisions prises par les organisateurs du prix Prisme sont définitives et sans appel. Les organisateurs du prix Prisme se réservent le droit de disqualifier un membre du jury ou de retirer un vidéoclip du concours, et ce, à sa discrétion.
Prism Prize Rules & Regulations
Eligibility
Any Canadian music video released between January 1, 2024 and May 1, 2025 will be considered eligible for the 2025 Prism Prize. Note: the Prism Prize is awarded by Jury and is not based on public entry.
Jurors / Voting
Jurors are selected from magazine, newspaper, blog, television and radio outlets from across Canada. Our jurors are journalists, filmmakers, bloggers, critics, curators, programmers, broadcasters, as well as radio and television personalities.
Jurors will submit a list of videos they consider the five (5) best Canadian music videos of the year.
The Prism Prize will tabulate these selections and announce a list of 10 nominated videos. These 10 videos make up the Prism Prize Top Ten, and will compete for the Grand Prize.
This same jury will select from these 10 nominated videos to determine the Grand Prize winner.
A juror is not permitted to take part in the process if a conflict of interest is presented. If an unexpected conflict of interest should arise after the jury is selected, the jury member in question will be disqualified from voting.
The winning cash prize of $20,000 (CDN) will be presented to the music video director(s), to be shared with the recording artist/band as follows: $10,000 to director, $10,000 to artist/band.
The Prism Prize reserves the right to use clips of past video work by Special Award Recipients, as well as clips from the Top Ten Nominated videos, in perpetuity, within promotional materials related to the Prism Prize and the promotion of Canadian music video in general.
In the case of a tie in the final round of voting, the results from the first round of jury votes will be used as tie-breaker.
Definitions
For a music video to be “released” it must have been made available to the Canadian public at the control of the artist or the artist’s associates during the calendar year. This includes distribution via web or television broadcasting.
For a music video to be “Canadian,” videos must include:
At least two (2) of the following audio components:
Music is composed by a Canadian
Artist (principal performer) is a Canadian (in the case of a band, 50% of the members must be Canadian)
Performance/production is in Canada
Lyrics are written by a Canadian
And at least one (1) of the following video components:
video director or production company is Canadian
video production facilities are located in Canada
All rulings by the Prism Prize are final. A juror or nomination may be disqualified or removed at the discretion of the Prism Prize.
