Rich Aucoin Wins First-Ever Prism Prize

BY Alex HudsonPublished Mar 25, 2013

This year marks the inaugural instalment of the Prism Prize, a newly launched award that celebrates the best Canadian music video from the past year. After weeks of lead-up, the organizers have now announced the winner for the prize's first edition: "Brian Wilson is A.L.i.V.E." by Rich Aucoin.

This song appeared on Aucoin's 2011 album We're All Dying to Live, while the Noah Pink-directed video followed in September of last year. The unique clip tells the life story of the iconic Beach Boys songwriter by taking Aucoin through a series of Brian Wilson-themed sets on a sound stage.

Aucoin and Pink were awarded the $5,000 prize at a reception on Sunday evening (March 24) at Toronto's Soho House. The winning clip was selected by a jury of more than 90 writers, broadcasters and filmmakers from across the country. Prism founder Louis Calabro said in a statement, "It was an extremely close race. But in the end, Pink and Aucoin's video landed the most votes. The video has a simple and smart concept and the tone is fun and frantic and that clearly resonated with our jury."

Arcade Fire won the secondary Prism Prize Audience Award for "Sprawl II," garnering the most votes in a public poll run in collaboration with Exclaim! and The Grid.

Aucoin and Arcade Fire beat out nominees Grimes (who had two nominated clips), Mother Mother, Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, Young Rival, Drake, Maylee Todd, and METZ.

Plans for Prism's second year are still forthcoming. Until then, expect the Prize to post videos and updates over at its website.

You might remember that Aucoin ranked fifth in Exclaim's list of the best music videos of 2012.

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