The Canadian Academy and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) have revealed the inaugural recipients of its Music Video Production Project (MVP Project), including a number of notable directors and producers from the film and TV space.

Award-winning director Jordan Canning will produce and direct a video for former Hey Rosetta! singer Tim Baker, while Julie Baldassi is the producer on a music video for Polaris Music Prize-winning tenor and composer Jeremy Dutcher. Directing the latter video will be Chandler Levack, whose short film We Forgot to Wake Up was selected for the SXSW Film Festival in 2018.

Canning, whose TV credits include Baroness von Sketch Show, Little Dog, and Schitt’s Creek, previously picked up the DGC Best Director award at the Canadian Film Fest in 2018 for her indie feature Ordinary Days, while Baldassi produced the short film My Dead Dad’s Porno, which is currently shortlisted for Best Documentary Short at the Oscars.

The Canadian Academy and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) partnered on the initiative in 2018 through RBCxMusic and the Prism Prize, which was acquired by the Academy in 2018. Its purpose is to give emerging artists and filmmakers financial support on a music video production, along with networking and mentorship opportunities.

Director Lulu Wei, who was recently selected for Telefilm’s Talent to Watch program, will co-direct a video for Saskatoon artist Wild Black with Lindsay Goeldner, who also serves as producer.

The remaining projects receiving grants include Beatchild and the Slakdeligs, directed by Dan LeMoyne and produced by Rinku DasGupta; GOVI, directed by Jordan Lee and produced by Imad Elsheikh; Jordan Klassen, directed by Farhad Ghaderi and produced by Shelby Manton; Milk & Bone, produced by Sébastien Hotte and directed by Soleil Denault; and Sean Leon, produced by Khan and directed by Leon.

A breakdown of the funds provided was not made available, but a representative from the Academy told Playback Daily the average amount each project received is $10,000. Another round of submissions is scheduled to open Jan. 15.