RBC funding supports 12 new grant recipients, helping artists create music videos that showcase and amplify their talent
TORONTO, July 20, 2022 — Today, RBC and the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television celebrated a milestone, surpassing $1 million in funding towards the creation and production of music videos through the Music Video Production (MVP) Project. This milestone coincides with round eight of the program, in which grants were awarded to 12 teams of emerging Canadian musicians and filmmakers. Since its inception in 2018, the joint initiative between RBCxMusic and the Prism Prize, has awarded 86 grants to emerging artists to support the creation of 58 music videos to date.
“Being able to work with likeminded artists to create visual accompaniment to our work is a blessing for us,” said New Brunswick’s Motherhood. “Music videos have been instrumental in promoting our music and finding a wider listenership. We love exercising the visual side of our creative muscles and we can’t wait to flex this video on y’all.”
MVP Project grants provide emerging talent with much-needed support to bring their creative visions to life, and a platform to showcase their talent. Many music videos supported by the MVP Project have received critical acclaim; most recently, Desiree Dawson's “Meet You At the Light,” directed by Alex Farah, won the Grand Jury Award for Best Music Video at SXSW following its coveted Vimeo Staff Pick designation. Additionally, the MVP Project-supported music video for Haviah Mighty’s “Protest,” directed by Kit Weyman and Chrris Lowe was included on the Top 10 shortlist for the Grand Prize at the 2022 Prism Prize, an annual awards event recognizing outstanding artistry in music video production.
“We are incredibly proud to have surpassed $1 million in support in what is only our fourth year of the program and to continue to help amplify new talent and diverse perspectives,” said Shannon Cole, Vice President, Brand Marketing, RBC. “With each round of the program, the admiration our teams have for the talent in this country has only grown and we are excited to welcome round eight MVP Project recipients to this dynamic group of artists.”
“In the short time since launching in 2018, the MVP Project has grown to be an integral part of an artist’s journey, providing them with the necessary means to make their creative vision a reality,” said Louis Calabro, Interim CEO, Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. “Surpassing this milestone in funding is a testament to the unparalleled creative talent that we have in Canada, who are expanding viewer experience with captivating and deeply moving visuals in the form of music videos.”
The MVP Project is dedicated to growing the Canadian music video community and to providing opportunities for creatives to connect in a meaningful way. In addition to receiving funding through the MVP Project grants, artists can hone their craft with development opportunities through MVP Labs, a mentorship initiative offering guidance to young filmmakers and artists around the development of music video treatments, budgets and production plans.
The recipients selected for round eight represent a diverse collection of musical genres and filmmaking styles, and were determined by a jury of industry professionals. Recipients include:
Recording artist a l l i e, Director Roya DelSol, and Producer adé abegunde
Recording artist Abigail Lapell, Directors Spencer Ryan and Jordan Hamer, and Producer Erica Metcalfe
Recording artist EJAY SMITH, Director Kit Weyman, and Producers Fela
Recording artist/Producer Chad Price, and Director/Producer Chris Evans
Recording artist Boogey The Beat, Director Brendan Barnard, and Producer Ryan Cowan
Recording artist Monsune, Director Nick Yim, and Producer Duy Nguyen
Recording artist Mah Moud, Director Ryan Fanseda, and Producer Luisa Cruz
Recording artist Ceréna, Director Kyisha Williams, and Producer Emilija Davidovic
Recording artist and Director D.W. Waterson, and Producer Devery Jacobs
Recording artist Zoon, Directors Mary Chen and Trevor Blumas, and Producer Nick Harris
Recording artist Avry, Director, and Producer Elliott Muscat
Recording artist Motherhood, Director Jordan Greer, and Producer Nicole Cecile Holland
The MVP Project is part of RBC’s ongoing commitment to supporting emerging creatives through RBC Emerging Artists. Since 2003, RBC’s investments in arts organizations have exceeded $90 million supporting over 28,000 artists through these programs. In 2021, the RBC Foundation donated over $10 million as part of RBC Emerging Artists to over 185 organizations in Canada, helping to bridge the gap for more than 5,900 emerging artists.
Eligible emerging recording artists and filmmakers are encouraged to apply for Round 9, which will be announced in the coming months. Follow RBCxMusic and Prism Prize on Instagram for the latest updates.
