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
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
February 6, 2025
ABOUT
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.
Entry categories include Feature Documentaries, Short Documentaries, Extended Reality (XR)/ Interactive, Impact Videos, Impact Campaigns and Production Companies.
OPEN CALL
OUTREACH TOOLKIT SEPT. 5 – OCT. 10, 2024
SHORT BLURB (english)
SIMA 2025 Global Open Call for Documentary, XR/Interactive Media, Impact Video, Impact Campaign, and Production Company Submissions
As the most renowned global documentary awards competition and curator in the social impact film space, The 13th Annual Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) celebrate eye-opening impact cinema that exemplifies excellence in its potential to inspire social change.
SUBMIT BY 10/10 at simaawards.org/submit
*Films that are not in English must have English subtitles.
SHORT BLURB (spanish)
SIMA 2025 – CONVOCATORIA ABIERTA PARA DOCUMENTALES, PIEZAS DE REALIDAD VIRTUAL, VIDEOS DE IMPACTO, CAMPAÑAS DE IMPACTO, Y PRODUCTORAS
La competencia global de documentales y curaduría más prestigiosa en el ámbito del cine de impacto, inaugura la 13va Edición Anual de los Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) celebrando el mejor cine destacado por su excelencia para inspirar cambio social.
POSTULAR ANTES DEL 10/10 simaawards.org/submit
*Las películas no habladas en inglés, deben tener subtítulos en inglés.
NEWSLETTER (extended version)
SIMA 2025 GLOBAL OPEN CALL FOR DOCUMENTARY + IMPACT MEDIA + PRODUCTION COMPANY + IMPACT CAMPAIGN SUBMISSIONS. The 13th Annual SIMA AWARDS celebrate eye-opening impact cinema that exemplifies excellence in its potential to inspire social change.
ENTRY CATEGORIES: Feature and Short Documentaries, Extended Reality (XR)/ Interactive, Impact Videos, Impact Campaigns, and Production Companies.
As the most renowned global documentary awards competition and curator in the social impact film space, the Annual Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) have supported and celebrated over 4,200 content creators spanning 140 countries that challenge the status quo and redefine the world’s creative boundaries through unparalleled transparency and integrity. Filmmakers, compete for awards, cash prizes, and entry to participate in SIMA’s coveted year-round distribution programs; the global education platform SIMA Academy serving students in over 100 countries, and the SIMA Traveling Series, advancing global grassroots activism through local film events in partnership with human rights film festivals and community partners worldwide. Join the SIMA community and submit your work by Oct. 10, 2024 at simaawards.org/submit
NEWSLETTER (condensed version)
SIMA 2025 GLOBAL OPEN CALL FOR DOCUMENTARY + IMPACT MEDIA + PRODUCTION COMPANY SUBMISSIONS. The 13th Annual SIMA AWARDS celebrate eye-opening impact cinema that exemplifies excellence in its potential to inspire social change. ENTRY CATEGORIES: Feature and Short Documentaries, Extended Reality (XR)/ Interactive, Impact Videos, and Production Companies. Submit your work by Oct. 10, 2024 at simaawards.org/submit
13TH ANNUAL GLOBAL SIMA AWARDS 🏆#SIMA2025 NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS: DOCUMENTARIES, IMPACT MEDIA, IMPACT CAMPAIGNS, AND PRODUCTION COMPANIES ➡ SUBMIT BY 10/10. Calling all bold, wise, brave and eye-opening creative productions that exemplify excellence in their potential to inspire social change.
LEARN MORE + SUBMIT: Link in bio @simastudios
🎥ENTRY CATEGORIES:
➡ Feature and Short Documentaries
➡ Extended Reality (XR)/ Interactive
➡ Impact Videos
➡ Impact Campaigns
➡ Production Companies
As the most renowned global documentary awards competition and curator in the social impact film space, the Annual Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) have supported and celebrated over 4,200 content creators spanning 140 countries that challenge the status quo and redefine the world’s creative boundaries through unparalleled transparency and integrity. Join the SIMA community and submit your work by Oct. 10, 2024 at simaawards.org/submit
The 13th Annual SIMA Awards are powered by @SIMAStudios The Foundation for Systemic Change @hsp_byclaudiaflores @fipadoc @idaorg @firelight_media @dcdoxfest @doubleexposurefestival @genarteyciencia @undocufc @docnational @documentaryaustralia @armenianfilmsociety @imd.org.ar
#SIMA2025 #FilmFestival #Documentary #Docs #ImpactCinema #SIMADocs #FilmFestival #Journalism #FilmCommunity
13TH ANNUAL GLOBAL SIMA AWARDS 🏆#SIMA2025 NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS: DOCUMENTARIES, IMPACT MEDIA, PRODUCTION COMPANIES, IMPACT CAMPAIGNS ➡ SUBMIT BY 10/10. Calling all bold, wise, brave and eye-opening creative productions that exemplify excellence in their potential to inspire social change.
LEARN MORE + SUBMIT: simaawards.org/submit
🎥ENTRY CATEGORIES:
➡ Feature and Short Documentaries
➡ Extended Reality (XR)/ Interactive
➡ Impact Videos
➡ Impact Campaigns
➡ Production Companies
As the most renowned global documentary awards competition and curator in the social impact film space, the Annual @Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) have supported and celebrated over 4,200 content creators spanning 140 countries that challenge the status quo and redefine the world’s creative boundaries through unparalleled transparency and integrity. Join the SIMA community and submit your work by Oct. 10, 2024 at simaawards.org/submit
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 #FilmFestival #Documentary #Docs #ImpactCinema #SIMADocs #FilmFestival #Journalism #FilmCommunity
X (TWITTER)
13TH ANNUAL GLOBAL @SIMAAWARDS 🏆#SIMA2025 NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS: DOCUMENTARIES, IMPACT MEDIA, IMPACT CAMPAIGNS, PRODUCTION COMPANIES ➡ SUBMIT BY 10/10. Calling all bold, wise, brave and eye-opening creative productions that exemplify excellence in their potential to inspire social change.
LEARN MORE + SUBMIT: simaawards.org/submit
🎥 ENTRY CATEGORIES:
➡ Feature and Short Documentaries
➡ Extended Reality (XR)/ Interactive
➡ Impact Videos
➡ Impact Campaigns
➡ Production Companies
As the most renowned global documentary awards competition and curator in the social impact film space, the Annual Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) have supported and celebrated over 4,200 content creators spanning 140 countries that challenge the status quo and redefine the world’s creative boundaries through unparalleled transparency and integrity. Join the SIMA community and submit your work by Oct. 10, 2024 at simaawards.org/submit
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 #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
3,433 films submitted
147 countries
470 films short-listed
289 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.
