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.

“SIMA 2022 finalists are unapologetic in bringing us face-to-face with the daunting reality we are up against—systemic political, economic and cultural oppression in the midst of a global pandemic and ecological crisis—that they don’t just courageously expose, but capture through a most powerful lens, a lens that reminds us of our capacity to resist. The intimacy of this year’s filmmaking takes us to the heart of where that resistance happens, through the eyes of protagonists who lead their movements for justice and accountability with such infectious drive and vulnerability that continued action is bound to follow. Thank you to all the filmmakers for your courage to tell  these stories. We are honored to support and amplify your work.” — Daniela Kon Lieberberg SIMA Founder + CEO

“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”