The Linda Joy Media Arts Society is pleased to announce the winner of the 2014 Joy Award. The LJMAS extends heartfelt congratulations to Leah Johnston.

Winner: Leah Johnston
For: My Younger Older Sister
Award partners: SIM Video & PS Atlantic ($10,000), The Atlantic Filmmakers’ Coop ($6,000), 45 North ($1,200), Kodak Canada.

My Younger Older Sister follows the journey of Rose, a withdrawn young woman drifting through life in the wake of her older sister Kayla’s death. Rose is constantly bombarded with comparisons to her older, more self-assured sister, Kayla, and she spends her entire existence trying to measure up to the impossible standards that her sister has left. As Rose turns 21, she faces the realization she is now older than her older sister had a chance to be. Rose must now forge her own path for the first time in her life and let go of her sister’s ghost in order to create an identity for herself.

Leah Johnson is a filmmaker, actor, and photographer. Her interest is in creating conceptual photos and films. Beyond just telling a good story, Leah strives to always have a purpose behind every work she creates. Her goal is to let the underlying concept take precedence over all else, shaping the work from the inside out, in terms of narrative, visuals, sound and performance. She has created and performed in film and theatre pieces from Nova Scotia to Los Angeles, receiving positive, enthusiastic critical reception for her innovative style.