The annual SIMA Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in 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, Interactive + XR, and AI, the SIMA Awards recognize Production Companies whose body of work demonstrates excellence in creating responsible impact through diverse formats of visual storytelling.
SUBMIT BELOW:
ENTRY CATEGORIES
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.
XR (EXTENDED REALITY) + INTERACTIVE
XR / Interactive awards creative technology projects that use game engines, virtual reality, augmented/mixed reality, interactive, or participatory experiences. We are looking to honor the trailblazers in this field.
- VR / AR / MR / 360
- Reporting / Journalism
- Installations
- Apps/ Websites
- Creative Advocacy and Campaigns
IMPACT AI (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE)
Impact AI awards generative AI activism through synthetic media storytelling. This includes:
- Stories and film experiments told through generated video
- Images and text using tools such as (but not limited to) text-to-image, neural networks, LLMs and more.
IMPACT VIDEOS (INNOVATIONS + CREATIVE IMPACT)
Organizations, foundations, creative agencies and content creators are invited to submit their work. We are looking for:
- 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.
- 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 (SDGs) and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
- Transparency and Sustainability in the humanitarian/ human rights/ global social action 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, AI, and XR 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
RULES & REGULATIONS
ELIGIBILITY
Films must be completed between October 2022 and September 2023 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.
XR (EXTENDED REALITY) + INTERACTIVE – Individual, stand-alone XR + Interactive projects, VR, AR, MR or 360-degree video, less than 20 minutes in length.
IMPACT AI – Stories and film experiments told through generated video, images and text using tools such as (but not limited to) text-to-image, neural networks, LLMs and more.
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.
*NOTE: Videos merely geared towards fundraising or brand advertising are NOT ACCEPTED
AWARDS & JURY PRIZES
Named recipients are 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 FILMS (FEATURES & SHORTS)
- Feature Finalists are eligible for distribution via the SIMA Traveling Series
- Short Finalists are eligible for distribution via the SIMA Traveling Series and SIMA Academy
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
SYSTEMIC CHANGE AWARD < $2500 cash prize (Sponsored by the Systemic Change Foundation)
XR (EXTENDED REALITY) + INTERACTIVE
- Suitable finalists are eligible for distribution via SIMA Academy
AWARD
Immersive Impact
JURY PRIZE < $1000 cash or in-kind prize per category
Creative Advocacy
IMPACT AI
- Suitable finalists are eligible for distribution via SIMA Academy
AWARD
AI for Good
IMPACT VIDEOS (INNOVATIONS & CREATIVE IMPACT)
- Finalists are eligible for distribution via SIMA Academy
AWARDS
Humanitas | Creative Activism
JURY PRIZES < $500 cash or in-kind prize per category
Innovation | Impact
PRODUCTION COMPANIES
AWARDS
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 productions, approach and dedication to impact storytelling is setting industry standards that raise the bar of quality, innovation, equity and diversity.
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 storytelling, artistic and technical merit and their potential to ignite critical consciousness, best practices and actions for progressive change. Entries from Production Companies are judged on their unique contributions to the landscape and culture of social impact storytelling.
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 7th – September 15th)
Documentary Features: $ 45 | Documentary Shorts: $30 | XR: $ 45 | AI: $ 45 | Impact Videos: $20 | Production Companies $90
Regular Deadline (September 16th – September 30th)
Documentary Features: $ 50 | Documentary Shorts: $35 | XR: $ 50 | AI: $50 | Impact Videos: $25 | Production Companies $100
Late Deadline (October 1st – October 7th)
Documentary Features: $60 | Documentary Shorts: $45 | XR: $ 60 | AI: $60 | Impact Videos: $35 | Production Companies $130
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 websites, 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.