OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS
September 7, 2023
EARLY BIRD DEADLINE
September 15, 2023
REGULAR DEADLINE
September 30, 2023
LATE / FINAL DEADLINE
October 7, 2023
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
January 11, 2024
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
February 8, 2024
ABOUT
The 12th 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. Finalists will be announced on January 11, 2024 and Winners on February 8, 2024.
WHAT
SIMA is looking for original, wise, brave, eye-opening and creative productions that increase the awareness of viewers to local and global issues, to the resilience of humans facing deprivation, to the politics and movements of human rights, environmental and social justice, and to efforts and agents of change worldwide. Entry Categories include: Feature Documentaries, Short Documentaries, Extended Reality (XR)/ Interactive, Impact AI, Impact Videos and Production Companies.
CALL FOR ENTRIES
OUTREACH TOOLKIT | SEPTEMBER 7 — OCTOBER 7, 2023
NEWSLETTER (extended version)
GLOBAL OPEN CALL FOR ENTRIES: Documentaries, Impact Videos, Production Companies, and XR/Interactive and Impact AI pieces—SUBMIT YOUR WORK. Doc filmmakers and impact media creators, SIMA wants your brave, eye-opening and creative films and media projects that raise important questions about the state of our world: from increasing the awareness of viewers to local and global issues, to the politics and movements of human rights, environmental and social justice, and the efforts and agents of change worldwide. Production Companies committed to impact storytelling that inspires activism and social transformation are also invited to submit! Submit by October 7, 2023 at simaawards.org/submit #SIMA2024
The 12th Annual SIMA Awards are powered by Milatido, Foundation of Systemic Change, GSR Foundation, International Documentary Association (IDA), Doc Society, Firelight Media, DC/DOX, Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC), Documentary Australia, and Instituto Multimedia DerHumALC (IMD).
NEWSLETTER (shortened version)
GLOBAL OPEN CALL: Documentary filmmakers + impact media creators, The 12th Annual SIMA Awards wants your brave, eye-opening and creative projects that raise important questions about the state of our world. Learn more + submit before Oct. 7, 2023 at simaawards.org/submit #SIMA2024
📢 GLOBAL OPEN CALL FOR ENTRIES 🎥 Documentaries, Impact Videos, Production Companies, and XR/Interactive and Impact AI pieces ➡ SUBMIT YOUR WORK. Doc filmmakers and impact media creators, SIMA wants your brave, eye-opening and creative films and media projects that raise important questions about the state of our world: from increasing the awareness of viewers to local and global issues, to the politics and movements of human rights, environmental and social justice, and the efforts and agents of change worldwide. Production Companies committed to impact storytelling that inspires activism and social transformation are also invited to submit! Submit by October 7, 2023 at simaawards.org/submit #SIMA2024
The 12th Annual SIMA Awards 🏆 are powered by @_milatido, Foundation of Systemic Change, GSR Foundation, @idaorg, @thedocsociety, @firelight_media, @dcdoxfest, @undocufc, @docnational, @documentaryaustralia, and @imd.org.ar.
#SIMA2024 #FilmFestival #Documentary #Docs #ImpactCinema #SIMADocs
📢 GLOBAL OPEN CALL FOR ENTRIES 🎥 Documentaries, Impact Videos, Production Companies, and XR/Interactive and Impact AI pieces ➡ SUBMIT YOUR WORK to the 12th Annual @SocialImpactMediaAwards. Doc filmmakers and impact media creators, SIMA wants your brave, eye-opening and creative films and media projects that raise important questions about the state of our world: from increasing the awareness of viewers to local and global issues, to the politics and movements of human rights, environmental and social justice, and the efforts and agents of change worldwide. Production Companies committed to impact storytelling that inspires activism and social transformation are also invited to submit! Submit by October 7, 2023 at simaawards.org/submit #SIMA2024
The 12th Annual SIMA Awards 🏆 are powered by Milatido, Foundation of Systemic Change, GSR Foundation, International Documentary Association (IDA), Doc Society, Firelight Media, DC/DOX, Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC), Documentary Australia, and Instituto Multimedia DerHumALC (IMD).
📢 GLOBAL OPEN CALL FOR ENTRIES 🎥 Documentaries, Impact Videos, Production Companies, and XR/Interactive and Impact AI pieces ➡ SUBMIT YOUR WORK. Doc filmmakers and impact media creators, SIMA wants your brave, eye-opening and creative films and media projects that raise important questions about the state of our world: from increasing the awareness of viewers to local and global issues, to the politics and movements of human rights, environmental and social justice, and the efforts and agents of change worldwide. Production Companies committed to impact storytelling that inspires activism and social transformation are also invited to submit! Submit by October 7, 2023 at simaawards.org/submit #SIMA2024
The 12th Annual SIMA Awards are powered by Milatido, Foundation of Systemic Change, GSR Foundation, International Documentary Association (IDA), Doc Society, Firelight Media, DC/DOX, Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC), Documentary Australia, and Instituto Multimedia DerHumALC (IMD)
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
3,000+ filmmakers
4,600+ educators
117,400+ students
600+ media organizations
196 countries
ALL-TIME STATS
2,996 films submitted
147 countries
429 films short-listed
191 films awarded
300+ films distributed
104 languages
500+ 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.
#SIMA2024 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.
