Haviah Mighty music video ‘Thirteen’ wins $20,000 Prism Prize

TORONTO – Haviah Mighty’s animated music video about generations of racial prejudice has won this year’s Prism Prize.

The powerful project for the Toronto-based rapper’s song “Thirteen,” directed by Theo Kapodistrias, took the $20,000 grand prize in a virtual presentation.

The song is from her debut solo album, “13th Floor,” which won the 2019 Polaris Music Prize.

A jury chose “Thirteen” from a field of 10 finalists for the Prism Prize, which honours Canadian music videos.

All other teams on the short list receive $1,000 apiece.

This year’s audience award went to Halifax-based Aquakultre’s video “Pay It Forward,” directed by Evan Elliot and Lance Sampson.

The soulful synth song is about spreading kindness.

Last year’s grand prize winner was the video for Jessie Reyez’s song “Far Away,” directed by Peter Huang.

Established in 2012, the Prism Prize is billed as the largest cash prize in the world for music videos.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 27, 2021.