The annual SIMA Awards celebrate the best social impact filmmaking from around the world that inspires activism, compassion and social transformation. We honor content creators, production companies and impact media funders that demonstrate excellence in advancing the culture of global impact storytelling.

SIMA 2020 is now closed.

Finalists will be announced in January 2020.

ABOUT THE SIMA AWARDS

DOCUMENTARY FILMS (FEATURES + SHORTS)

We are looking for original, wise, brave, eye-opening and creative productions that capture and illuminate the pulse, the people and the movements behind today’s global issues. We seek productions that raise important questions about the state of our contemporary world, and inspire viewers to reflect on the meaning and potential of social activism and social transformation.

VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) + 360

Social impact virtual reality films are said to be the future of empathy-building impact storytelling. We are looking for the trailblazers in this emerging field.

1. Documentaries
2. Reporting / Citizens Journalism
3. Experimental / Creative Advocacy and Campaigns

IMPACT VIDEOS (INNOVATIONS + CREATIVE IMPACT)

Organizations, foundations, creative agencies and content creators are invited to submit their work. We are looking for:

1. 1. Innovation videos that share unique insight into “how impact works”, capturing distinctive approaches, creative models, successful tactics and innovative projects in global development, education and social justice initiatives.
   2. Creative impact and awareness videos that inspire critical consciousness of current social issues, for example: social-advertising, cause marketing, changemaker features, impact poetry films, or artistic takes on social advocacy.

We are especially interested in:

• Issues relating to UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Transparency and Sustainability in the humanitarian/ human rights/ global development sector
• Everyday stories of individuals, groups and cultures
• Campaigning films geared to raising awareness and calls to action
• Examples of social engagement and activism – both positive and those that have not been successful

Example themes:

EDUCATION MODELS, INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, FOOD SECURITY, LGBTQ RIGHTS, WATER, ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION/ JUSTICE, ENERGY / TECHNOLOGY, RESPONSIBLE TOURISM, CONFLICT RESOLUTION / DIPLOMACY, CHILDREN’S RIGHTS, LOCAL & GLOBAL ECONOMY, DISEASE CONTROL / PREVENTION, TRAUMA RECOVERY / REHABILITATION, REFUGEES, HEALTH, DISCRIMINATION, STIGMA, AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT, GENDER BASED VIOLENCE / EQUALITY, GIRLS & WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT, YOUTH PROGRAMS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT/ MOBILIZATION, SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP, MICROFINANCE, MEDIA / CONSCIOUS COMMUNICATIONS, ARTISTIC ADVOCACY, RACIAL JUSTICE, DISASTER RESPONSE, DISABILITY JUSTICE, LABOR RIGHTS

PRODUCTION COMPANIES

Companies with a demonstrated track record of producing social impact media ( Documentaries, Narrative film, Web Series, Interactive, Video Journalism, Cause Marketing, and Virtual Reality/ 360/ AR are invited to compete for recognition of their creative impact.

We are looking for:

• Organizational commitment to advancing social impact through media
• Examples of impact storytelling you produced and the generated impact

IMPACT MEDIA FUNDERS (CORPORATE SPONSORS + FOUNDATIONS/ GRANT-MAKERS)

With a special focus on innovative models that support established and/or emerging talent we are inviting both corporate and non-profit funders of social impact media productions (Film / Documentary / Video / Web / Interactive/ Campaigns) to be recognized for uniquely empowering and catalyzing content creation on the forefront of social change.

We are looking for:

• Trailblazing entities that support the power of media to build public and political will for social action. 
• Corporate entities or non-profit grant-makers who understand the importance of media funding and its role in cultivating a just, equitable and compassionate society.
• Innovative funding approaches that empower current and future content creators.

RULES & REGULATIONS

ELIGIBILITY

Films must be completed between October 2018 and September 2019 to be eligible for entry. Each title is permitted to enter once to SIMA. Titles that have entered in the past are not permitted to enter into the competition in subsequent years. Each entry may be submitted by only one individual or organization. If the film is a co-production, the entrant assumes full responsibility for notifying the other co-production partners of the entry. In the event of multiple entries for the same film, copyright ownership will determine which entry is accepted. The entrant is responsible for securing and clearing all rights.

CATEGORY RULES

FEATURE – Individual, stand-alone documentary, 40 or more minutes in length.

SHORT – Individual, stand-alone documentary, less than 40 minutes in length.

VIRTUAL REALITY (VR)  + 360 – Individual, stand-alone VR or 360-degree video, less than 20 minutes in length.

IMPACT VIDEO * – Individual, stand-alone video, between 2 and 20 minutes in length.

PRODUCTION COMPANY – Registered legal entity with more than 5 impact media productions in its history.

IMPACT MEDIA FUNDER – Registered legal entity with more than 5 funded/sponsored impact media productions in its history.

*NOTE: Videos merely geared towards fundraising or brand advertising are NOT ACCEPTED

AWARDS RECIPIENTS

Limited to two persons, one of whom must be the credited Director who exercised directorial control, and the other of whom must have a Producer/Director credit.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AWARDS

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

DOCUMENTARY SHORT AWARDS

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

VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) + 360 AWARDS

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

IMPACT VIDEO AWARDS

Humanitas | Impact

DOCUMENTARY JURY PRIZES

Transparency | Stylistic Achievement | Ethos | Lens to Action

VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) JURY PRIZES

Immersive Impact | Experimental Advocacy | Journalistic Achievement 

IMPACT VIDEO JURY PRIZES

Innovation |  Creative Activism

PRODUCTION COMPANIES AWARD

Creative Impact

IMPACT MEDIA FUNDERS (CORPORATE SPONSORS + FOUNDATIONS / GRANT-MAKERS) AWARDS

Catalyst | Vanguard

JUDGING

Judging of the SIMA Awards is based on overall excellence in creativity, innovation and educational merit. Committees of filmmaking and global human rights and development professionals screen all entries and select all finalists. Award winners and Jury Prize recipients in all Categories are selected are selected by a group of SIMA Judges from the finalists.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All (non-English language) media entries must be sub-titled in English. Multiple projects may be submitted, however each film must have a separate completed submission form. Companies are eligible to submit in multiple categories (for example in: Production Company and Documentary), each requiring a separate submission form.

If your media submission is short-listed as a FINALIST, we will require an electronic press kit (EPK) to be sent via email to submit@simaawards.org, and a high-res digital download of your film (MPEG4/ h264 @1080p / 10—25mbps) H264/MPEG.

ENTRY FEES

Entries must be accompanied by the appropriate entry fee. Entry fees are not refundable. Fees cover registration, site security, notification that your entry has been received, notification of results, media and data management and storage. These fees may be paid via Paypal and credit card. You will find links for payment on your respective Submission Form page.

Early Bird Deadline (September 9th – September 26th)

Documentary Features: $ 45 | Documentary Shorts: $30 | VR: $ 45  | Impact Videos: $20 | Production Companies $90 | Funders: $120

Regular Deadline (September 27th – October 11th)

Documentary Features: $ 50 | Documentary Shorts: $35 | VR: $ 50  | Impact Videos: $25 | Production Companies $100 | Funders: $150

Late Deadline (October 12th – October 25th)

Documentary Features: $60 | Documentary Shorts: $45 | VR: $ 60 | Impact Videos: $35 | Production Companies $130 | Funders: $180

PRE-PRESS, PUBLICITY, MEDIA

Entry in this competition grants SIMA the right to use trailers as well as clips (2 minutes maximum), photographs, and all related names, biographical materials and data, trademarks, logos, and/or related marketing or promotional materials for publicity and promotional purposes for the SIMA website, as well as websites of SIMA’s promotional partners, media sponsors, and web aggregators. SIMA reserves the right to use any submitted materials for all promotional purposes, including all existing and future media platforms in perpetuity.

ARCHIVE

All entrants agree to release digital files of their production for non-circulation reference at the SIMA organizers archive. Hard copies, DVDs and publicity materials submitted to SIMA will not be returned.