WINNERS ANNOUNCED
February 6, 2025
OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS
September 5, 2025
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE
September 16, 2024
REGULAR DEADLINE
September 26, 2024
LATE / FINAL DEADLINE
October 10, 2024
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
January 9, 2025
ABOUT
STORIES FROM 30 COUNTRIES AWARDED IN THE 13TH ANNUAL SOCIAL IMPACT MEDIA AWARDS (SIMA 2025)
PULL QUOTE
“SIMA 2025 winners reveal the depths of human resilience, creativity and activism with raw elegance and disarming intimacy that is truly transformative. In a fractured yet fiercely hopeful world, they challenge us to see—and to never look away. Their work is a testament to the power of storytelling to shift perspectives, shape understandings, and birth revolutions. To all the remarkable filmmakers and producers, thank you for your artistry, bravery, and unwavering commitment to fearless authenticity. We are honored to stand with you in championing your vision.”
– Daniela Kon Lieberberg, SIMA Founder and CEO
SIMA AWARDS
The 13th annual SIMA Awards celebrate eye-opening impact cinema that exemplifies excellence in its potential to inspire social change. Each year, films and media projects are selected from over 140 countries around the world, competing for honors, cash prizes, media features, distribution opportunities, and entry into SIMA’s signature film programs.
WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT OUTREACH TOOLKIT
NEWSLETTER (extended version)
SIMA 2025 WINNERS ANNOUNCED: Stories from 30 countries awarded in The Annual International Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA 2025).
All transformation begins with an exploration of truth. It is the spark that exposes, awakens, and dismantles. In the hands of storytellers, it becomes a force of reckoning. The winners of the 13th Annual International Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA 2025) hold up a mirror to our world with an unflinching, intimate, and revelatory gaze.
“The SIMA 2025 winners reveal the depths of human resilience, creativity and activism with raw elegance and disarming intimacy that is truly transformative. In a fractured yet fiercely hopeful world, they challenge us to see—and to never look away. Their work is a testament to the power of storytelling to shift perspectives, shape understandings, and birth revolutions. To all the remarkable filmmakers and producers, thank you for your artistry, bravery, and unwavering commitment to fearless authenticity. We are honored to stand with you in championing your vision.” – Daniela Kon Lieberberg, SIMA Founder & CEO
Meet the winners: simaawards.org/2025-winners
The 13th Annual SIMA Awards are powered by SIMA Studios, The Foundation for Systemic Change, Human Sustainability Project, FIPADOC, International Documentary Association (IDA), Firelight Media, DC/DOX, Double Exposure, Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC), Documentary Australia, Armenian Film Society, GEN Center for Arts and Sciences, and Instituto Multimedia DerHumALC (IMD).
NEWSLETTER (condensed version)
SIMA 2025 WINNERS ANNOUNCED: Stories from 30 countries awarded in The Annual International Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA 2025). All transformation begins with an exploration of truth. It is the spark that exposes, awakens, and dismantles. In the hands of storytellers, it becomes a force of reckoning. The winners of the 13th Annual International Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA 2025) hold up a mirror to our world with an unflinching, intimate, and revelatory gaze. Meet the winners: simaawards.org/2025-winners
🏆 SIMA 2025 WINNERS ANNOUNCED! With stories spanning 30 countries, these films do more than document our world; they celebrate the extraordinary resolve of individuals and communities who rise, despite the weight of uncertainty, to forge a path toward hope.
Meet the winners of the 13th Annual Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) @SIMAStudios simaawards.org/2025-winners
Congratulations filmmakers, production companies, and impact producers, we’re honored to champion your work.
The 13th Annual SIMA Awards are powered by @SIMAStudios The Foundation for Systemic Change @hsp_byclaudiaflores @fipadoc @idaorg @firelight_media @dcdoxfest @dx_fest @genarteyciencia @undocufc @docnational @documentaryaustralia @armenianfilmsociety @imd.org.ar
#SIMA2025 #SIMA2025Winners #AwardWinners #FilmFestival #Documentary #Docs #ImpactCinema #SIMADocs #FilmFestival #Journalism #FilmCommunity
🏆 SIMA 2025 WINNERS ANNOUNCED! With stories spanning 30 countries, these films do more than document our world; they celebrate the extraordinary resolve of individuals and communities who rise, despite the weight of uncertainty, to forge a path toward hope.
Meet the winners of the 13th Annual Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) @SocialImpactMediaAwards simaawards.org/2025-winners
Congratulations filmmakers, production companies, and impact producers, we’re honored to champion your work.
The 13th Annual SIMA Awards are powered by SIMA Studios, The Foundation for Systemic Change, Human Sustainability Project, FIPADOC, International Documentary Association (IDA), Firelight Media, DC/DOX, Double Exposure, Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC), Documentary Australia, Armenian Film Society, GEN Center for Arts and Sciences, and Instituto Multimedia DerHumALC (IMD).
#SIMA2025 #SIMA2025Winners #AwardWinners #FilmFestival #Documentary #Docs #ImpactCinema #SIMADocs #FilmFestival #Journalism #FilmCommunity
X (TWITTER)
🏆 SIMA 2025 WINNERS ANNOUNCED! With stories spanning 30 countries, these films do more than document our world; they celebrate the extraordinary resolve of individuals and communities who rise, despite the weight of uncertainty, to forge a path toward hope.
Meet the winners of the 13th Annual Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) @SIMAStudios simaawards.org/2025-winners
Congratulations filmmakers, production companies, and impact producers, we’re honored to champion your work.
The 13th Annual SIMA Awards are powered by SIMA Studios, The Foundation for Systemic Change, Human Sustainability Project, FIPADOC, International Documentary Association (IDA), Firelight Media, DC/DOX, Double Exposure, Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC), Documentary Australia, Armenian Film Society, GEN Center for Arts and Sciences, and Instituto Multimedia DerHumALC (IMD).
#SIMA2025 #SIMA2025Winners #AwardWinners #FilmFestival #Documentary #Docs #ImpactCinema #SIMADocs #FilmFestival #Journalism #FilmCommunity
ANNUAL SIMA AWARDS
PRESS ASSETS
HISTORY
In 2012, award-winning documentary filmmaker and human rights activist, Daniela Kon founded SIMA to support and champion excellence in social impact filmmaking by launching an annual awards program and global distribution platforms that amplify the power of media to foster a world that is free from prejudice, discrimination and oppression.
SIMA started as the first and only international media competition honoring achievements in the creative, human rights and humanitarian fields. Today, SIMA is the most renowned global curator in the social impact space, serving independent film, academic and global social justice industries around the world.
QUOTES ABOUT SIMA
“These courageous filmmakers and activists re-imagine socio-political filmmaking. They set new standards for transparency, integrity, and creativity, while transforming their cameras, their narratives, and by extension their audiences, into vehicles for social justice. We’re proud to champion such an extraordinary range of global stories and filmmakers.” – Daniela Kon, SIMA Founder and Executive Director
“SIMA films are visual storytelling that can affect your mind, body, and soul.” – David Craig, Assistant Professor at USC’s Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism
“SIMA is quickly becoming the gold standard for social impact films, and the genre is quickly becoming our planet’s truest form of journalism. The content SIMA draws is jaw dropping.” – Trevor Hall, President of Creative Visions Foundation
“Necessary viewing for anyone concerned with international affairs and human rights issues.” – Andrew McGregor, Founder of Tiziano Project
“Watching these films was like school of the best, most expansive and inspiring kind.” – Patricia Billings, Co-founder of Milet Publishing
“Abandon the cultural conditioning of the ‘Do-Gooder Industrial Complex’ with each and every SIMA Film.” – Shawn Humphrey, Professor, Innovator & Development Consultant”
GLOBAL NETWORK
23,000,000+ media impressions yearly
5,000,000+ direct media reach
102 outreach partners
50 brand ambassadors
4,200+ filmmakers
5,400+ educators
147,000+ students
600+ media organizations
140+ countries
ALL-TIME STATS
3,691 films submitted
147 countries
517 films short-listed
308 films awarded
550 films distributed
104 languages
600+ screenings
6 continents
FILMMAKER GENDER
53.3% FEMALE
41.8% MALE
1.1% NON BINARY
FILMMAKER AGE
1.9% 18-25 YRS
36.3% 26-34 YRS
28.4% 35-44 YRS
14% 45-54 YRS
5.3% 55-64 YRS
1.2% 65+ YRS
5% DECLINE TO STATE
CONTACT
For all press or partnership inquiries, please email us directly.
#SIMA2025 SPONSORS
THANK YOU to our sponsors for supporting the championing of creative storytelling that inspires social change and for helping to share the best global impact cinema with communities and students around the world.
