RBC funding supports 12 new grant
recipients, helping artists create music videos that showcase and
amplify their talent
TORONTO, July 20,
2022 /CNW/ - 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.
About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a
global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led
approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from
the 89,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights
to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our
clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest
in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified
business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional
experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn
more at rbc.com.
We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives
through donations, community investments and employee volunteer
activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.
About the Academy of Canadian
Cinema & Television
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is the largest
non-profit professional arts organization in Canada with a membership of more than 4,000
emerging and established industry professionals. Founded in 1979,
the Canadian Academy is dedicated to recognizing, celebrating, and
advocating for Canadian talent in the film, television, and digital
media sectors while remaining committed to discovering and
nurturing all levels of talent through professional training,
networking opportunities, and guidance.
The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television proudly
acknowledges the support of its Leading Media Partner, CBC; Premier
Partner, Telefilm Canada; Platinum Partner CTV; Principal Partner,
Netflix; and its Lead Partners, the Canada Media Fund, Cineplex,
the Cogeco Fund, and WBD Access Canada.
For information on membership and programming visit
academy.ca.
SOURCE RBC