SOCIAL IMPACT MEDIA AWARDS

The annual SIMA Awards celebrate the highest standard of social impact storytelling, honoring the most cutting edge filmmaking from around the world that inspires activism, compassion and social transformation. Each year, projects are selected from over 140 countries, competing for awards, cash prizes, media features, and entry into SIMA’s distribution programs that bring selected works to communities and classrooms worldwide.

In addition to honoring Feature and Short Documentaries, Impact Videos, VR + 360, the SIMA Awards recognize Production Companies whose body of work demonstrates outstanding achievements in creating impact through diverse formats of visual storytelling, as well as Funders, both Corporate Entities and Grant-Makers/ Foundations whose support of social impact media is uniquely empowering todays content creators on the forefront of social change.

FIND OUT WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

JUDGING

SIMA’s JURY of award-winning media industry leaders, impact producers, educators, film and human rights experts select winners for each award category and jury prize. Films are judged on their potential to ignite critical consciousness through concept, direction, storytelling, integrity and creativity, and their ability to inspire awareness, dialogues, best practices and actions for progressive change. Entries from Production Companies and Funders are judged on their unique contributions to the landscape and culture of social impact storytelling.

ENTRY CATEGORIES & AWARDS

DOCUMENTARY FILMS (FEATURES & SHORTS)

AWARDS (FEATURES & SHORTS)

Best Documentary | Best Director | Best Cinematography | Best Editing | Best Sound Editing

JURY PRIZES < $1000 cash or in-kind prize per category

Transparency | Stylistic Achievement | Ethos | Lens to Action

VIRTUAL REALITY (VR)

AWARDS

Best VR Experience | Best Director | Best Cinematography | Best Editing | Best Sound Experience

JURY PRIZES < $1000 cash or in-kind prize per category

Immersive Impact | Creative Advocacy | Journalistic Achievement

IMPACT VIDEOS (INNOVATIONS & CREATIVE IMPACT)

AWARDS

Humanitas | Creative Activism

JURY PRIZES < $500 cash or in-kind prize per category

Innovation | Impact

PRODUCTION COMPANIES

AWARD

Vital Voices – awarded to a company whose productions serve underrepresented and underserved stories that bring vital voices from the margins to the mainstream

Creative Impact – awarded to a company whose film productions, approach and dedication to impact storytelling is setting industry standards that raise the bar of quality, equity and diversity

IMPACT MEDIA FUNDERS (CORPORATE SPONSORS & FOUNDATIONS)

AWARDS

Catalyst – awarded to a funder who is nurturing underserved impact storytelling talent

Vanguard – awarded to a funder who is setting industry standards that raise the bar of quality, equity and diversity in the impact media space