Last night, the 2nd annual Prism Prize Award Reception took place at The Everleigh in Toronto, ON. The Prism Prize is a national juried award established to recognize the artistry of the modern music video in Canada. The 2014 Prism Prize was awarded to director/photographer Emily Kai Block for Arcade Fire’s “Afterlife” from their Triple Platinum-certified album Reflektor. Bock, who was also nominated for Majical Cloudz’s “Childhood’s End” this year, was on hand to accept the $5,000 prize.

“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, which is awarded based on thousands of online votes collected in collaboration with Exclaim! Magazine, was presented to director Kheaven Lewandowski for The Belle Game’s “River”.

Other videos on the shortlist, which was selected by a jury of more than ninety Canadian music and film industry professionals, included Hollerado, Keys N Krates, Shad, Jessy Lanza, Young Galaxy and Drake.

Writer/director Scott Cudmore and producer/cinematographer Michael Leblanc received the inaugural Arthur Lipsett Award, which recognizes an innovative and unique approach to music video art. Floria Sigismondi received 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.

Plans for the third annual Prism Prize will be announced later this year. Congratulations to all of the 2014 Prism Prize winners and nominees.