A SPECIAL CINEMATIC EVENT WILL HONOUR THE TEN ALBUMS ON THE POLARIS SHORT LIST
ON OCTOBER 19, LIVE ON CBC GEM
AND CBC MUSIC
TORONTO, ON – Thursday, October 1, 2020
The Polaris Music Prize, presented by CBC Music, today announced the Canadian filmmakers who have been selected to create short films for the cinematic event honouring the 10 albums nominated for the 2020 Polaris Short List.
These short films will stream as part of the reimagined 2020 Polaris Music Prize Celebration, a special, cinematic tribute hosted by CBC Music’s Saroja Coelho, set to be broadcast in Canada on the free CBC Gem streaming service, CBC Music’s Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages and around the globe at CBCMusic.ca/Polaris on October 19 at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT). The 2020 Polaris-winning album will be revealed live at the end of this event.
The 10 Polaris Short List filmmaking teams are:
BACKXWASH
GOD HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS LEAVE HIM OUT OF IT
Film Title: God Has Nothing To Do With This Leave Him Out Of It
Directors: Ashanti Mutinta & Chachi Revah
Producer: Mira Silvers / FORT Entertainment
CARIBOU
SUDDENLY
Film Title: Suddenly
Directors: Isabella Salas & Mark Ó Fearghaíl
Producer: Robot Jaguar Studio
JUNIA-T
STUDIO MONK
Film Title: The Monk
Director: Yassin ‘Narcy’ Alsalman
Producer: We Are The Medium
KAYTRANADA
BUBBA
Film Title: Vex Oh
Director: Scott McPherson
Producer: Maud Simon
NÊHIYAWAK
NIPIY
Film Title: nipiy
Director: Conor McNally
Producer: Conor McNally
PANTAYO
Film Title: Huwag Mataranta!
Director: Tricia Hagoriles
Producer: Lindsay Blair Goeldner
LIDO PIMIENTA
MISS COLOMBIA
Film Title: MISS COLOMBIA: The Road Home
Directors: Andres Landau & Lido Pimienta
Producers: Lido Pimienta & Andres Landau
JESSIE REYEZ
BEFORE LOVE CAME TO KILL US
Film Title: When Love Came To Kill Us
Director: Alicia K. Harris
Producer: Sarah Quan
U.S. GIRLS
HEAVY LIGHT
Film Title: Woodstock ‘99
Directors: Meg Remy, Norah Sadava, Colin Medley
Producer: Meg Remy
WITCH PROPHET
DNA ACTIVATION
Film Title: DNA Activation
Directors: Witch Prophet & FROCASSO
Producer: Witch Prophet
Due of COVID-19, for the safety and well-being of the Polaris community, Polaris chose to not host a winner Gala event this year. Instead, Polaris invited Canadian filmmakers to apply to create commissioned films inspired by each of the Short List-nominated albums. In only four days, hundreds of filmmakers applied, with the selected filmmaking teams being commissioned based on input from Polaris staff, CBC Music and Short List nominee teams.
The Polaris Music Prize awards $50,000 to the artist who creates the Canadian Album of the Year, judged solely on artistic merit, without consideration for genre or record sales. Additionally, the nine other nominated acts whose albums make the 2020 Short List will receive $3,000 each courtesy of Slaight Music.
Albums eligible for 2020 Polaris Music Prize consideration must have been released between May 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020. An independent jury of music journalists, broadcasters and bloggers from across Canada determines the Long List and Short List. Eleven people from the larger jury pool are then chosen to serve on the Grand Jury. This Grand Jury will select the Polaris Music Prize winner.
The past winners are Haviah Mighty (2019), Jeremy Dutcher (2018), Lido Pimienta (2017), Kaytranada (2016), Buffy Sainte-Marie (2015), Tanya Tagaq (2014), Godspeed You! Black Emperor (2013), Feist (2012), Arcade Fire (2011), Karkwa (2010), Fucked Up (2009), Caribou (2008), Patrick Watson (2007) and Final Fantasy / Owen Pallett (2006).
We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada's Private Radio Broadcasters.
About the Polaris Music Prize
The Polaris Music Prize is a not-for-profit organization that annually honours and rewards artists who produce Canadian music albums of distinction. A select panel of music critics judge and award the Prize without regard to musical genre or commercial popularity. www.polarismusicprize.ca
About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic and Chinese, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.
About CBC Music
CBC Music connects Canadians with the very best in music. Available through the CBC Listen app, online, on radio and in television specials throughout the year, CBC Music privileges Canadian artists and songs. Offering 200 free music streams, CBC Music draws from all genres and classifications with knowledgeable hosts and programmers. Home to the JUNO Awards and your favourite music from across the country, discover the next great act with CBC Music. For more, visit www.cbcmusic.ca
Media Contacts:
Polaris Music Prize media:
Amanda McCauley - Indoor Recess
(905) 926-6440
amanda@indoorrecess.com
Polaris Music Prize media (Quebec):
Magali Ould
(514) 994-6295
magali@polarismusicprize.ca
CBC
Teaghan Hawke
(416) 205-6863
teaghan.hawke@cbc.ca
Media assets (Polaris logos, album covers, bios, photos, streams):
polarismusicprize.ca/media
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