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.

• 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.

  1. VR / AR / MR / 360

  2. Reporting / Journalism

  3. Installations

  4. Apps/ Websites

  5. Creative Advocacy and Campaigns

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.

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

PRODUCTION COMPANY

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

• 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: (1) An organizational commitment to advancing social impact through media. (2) Examples of impact storytelling you produced and the generated impact.

IMPACT AI

• Individual, stand-alone projects that use artificial intelligence in the creation, subject, or application of the work.

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

• GENERAL: Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Editing

• Systemic Change Award < $2500 cash prize (Sponsored by The Foundation for Systemic Change)

• International Student Choice Award: Recognizing the short documentary that moved young audiences worldwide, selected by SIMA Academy’s global student community.

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 AI

AWARD

• Ethical AI for Humanity – Honoring AI applications guided by ethics and human values, spotlighting responsible uses of artificial intelligence that drive meaningful real-world impact.

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. 18)

• Documentary Features: $45

• Documentary Shorts: $30

• XR/Interactive $45

• Impact Videos: $20

• Impact Campaigns: $50

• Production Companies: $90

Regular Deadline (Sept. 19 – Sept. 25)

• 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.