Films must be completed between October 2024 and September 2025 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. Entrants may submit multiple films to the SIMA Awards and enter into multiple categories. For example, entrants can submit a documentary feature and also enter into the production company category.

FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

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

SHORT DOCUMENTARY

• 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 VIDEO

• Individual, stand-alone video, between 2 and 20 minutes in length. Please note that videos merely geared towards fundraising or brand advertising are NOT ACCEPTED.

PRODUCTION COMPANY

• Registered legal entity with more than five (5) impact media productions in its history.

IMPACT CAMPAIGN

• For stand-alone documentaries submitted by Impact Lead (e.g. Impact Producer, Strategist, Film Producer, or Director)

DOCUMENTARIES

DISTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITIES

• Feature Finalists are eligible for distribution via Cinema Across Borders, SIMA’s global traveling series. Short Finalists are eligible for distribution via Cinema Across Borders and SIMA Academy.

AWARDS

• Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound Editing

• SYSTEMIC CHANGE AWARD < $2500 cash prize (Sponsored by The Foundation for Systemic Change)

JURY PRIZES

• < $1000 cash or in-kind prize per category

• Transparency, Stylistic Achievement, Ethos, Lens to Action

XR (EXTENDED REALITY) / INTERACTIVE

DISTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITY

• 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 VIDEOS (INNOVATIONS & CREATIVE IMPACT)

DISTRIBUTION OPPORTUNITY

• Finalists are eligible for distribution via SIMA Academy.

AWARDS

• Humanitas, Creative Activism

JURY PRIZES

• < $500 cash or in-kind prize per category

• Innovation, Impact

IMPACT CAMPAIGNS

AWARDS

• Legacy Award – Awarded to an impact producer or team whose strategy redefines industry standards, exemplifying outstanding and innovative approaches to campaign design and execution that generate lasting impact.

• Catalyst Award – Awarded to an impact producer or team whose campaign has achieved lasting change, particularly benefiting underrepresented and underserved stories and communities.

PRODUCTION COMPANIES

AWARDS

• Vital Voices Award - Awarded to a company whose productions serve underrepresented and underserved stories that bring vital voices from the margins to the mainstream.

• Creative Impact Award - 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.

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.

All (non-English language) media entries must be subtitled 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.

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 (Sept. 9 – Sept. 17)

• Documentary Features: $45

• Documentary Shorts: $30

• XR/Interactive $45

• Impact Videos: $20

• Impact Campaigns: $50

• Production Companies: $90

Regular Deadline (Sept. 18 – Sept. 24)

• Documentary Features: $50

• Documentary Shorts: $35

• XR/Interactive $50

• Impact Videos: $25

• Impact Campaigns: $60

• Production Companies: $100

Late Deadline/Final Deadline (Sept. 26 – Oct. 9)

• Documentary Features: $60

• Documentary Shorts: $45

• XR/Interactive $60

• Impact Videos: $35

• Impact Campaigns: $70

• Production Companies: $130

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.

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.