Michael Leblanc & Floria Sigismondi to Receive Prism Prize Special Awards

The Prism Prize has announced the recipients of two new awards, the Prism Prize Special Achievement Award and the Arthur Lipsett Award, introduced to the award program to celebrate the achievements of Canadian music videos artists, both at home and on the world stage, in advance of the Grand Prize announcement on March 23rd, 2014.

This year's Arthur Lipsett Award, established to recognize an innovative and unique approach to music video art, goes to Writer/Director Scott Cudmore and Producer/Cinematographer Michael Leblanc. For the past seven years, Leblanc & Cudmore have created a host of brooding and beautiful videos for artists including Royal Canoe, Parlovr and Fucked Up. The duo was nominated to the Prism Prize Shortlist in 2013 for their stuttering video for Metz' 'Wet Blanket' and this year, the duo made videos for artists Bahamas, Timber Timbre, Lucius, and Steven Malkmus.

"Arthur Lipsett was a groundbreaking filmmaker whose films often simply implied their narrative, rather than explicitly stating it," said Prism Prize Director and Founder Louis Calabro. "We saw a kinship in Leblanc & Cudmore's creative skill. The feeling and tone of their videos tend to be the focus of the work, to chilling effect. It's about time we recognized their talents."

Floria Sigismondi has been announced as the recipient of 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. Sigismondi has worked with some of the most famous names in music (Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Sigur Ros amongst others) and has established her own aesthetic along the way.

"Through her early days with Canadian bands like the Tea Party and Pure, her rise to fame crafting Marilyn Manson's netherworlds and her recent work with David Bowie, it's abundantly clear that Sigismondi has achieved a great deal in her career, deserving of recognition as a Canadian music video artist thriving on the world stage." said Calabro.

More information and videos from these artists can be found at www.prismprize.com/awards.

The Prism Prize Awards Reception takes place on March 23, 2014 at the Everleigh in Toronto, and will include presentations of two Special Awards, as well as the Audience Choice Award and the grand Prism Prize for Best Canadian Music Video of the Year. After screening the Top Ten Short List videos, The Prism Prize winning video will be awarded the Prism Prize trophy and a cash reward of $5000. The Top 10 Shortlist is available at www.prismprize.com.