THE 15TH ANNUAL SIMA AWARDS OPEN IN SEPTEMBER 2026
2027 SIMA AWARDS
CELEBRATING 15 YEARS OF GLOBAL IMPACT STORYTELLING
The annual SIMA Awards (Social Impact Media Awards) recognize outstanding achievements in high-integrity documentary storytelling, honoring bold, cinematic work from around the world that defines the field, expands perspective, and resonates far beyond the screen. Each year, projects from over 140 countries compete for awards, cash prizes, global recognition, and entry into SIMA’s distribution ecosystem — extending their reach into classrooms, communities, and cultural spaces worldwide.
2027 SIMA AWARDS
ENTRY CATEGORIES
We seek original, courageous, and eye-opening work that illuminates the people and movements behind today’s global issues — films that raise essential questions and deepen how we understand and engage with the world.
Entries across two distinct tracks:
- Innovations: Behind-the-scenes looks at social interventions and impact projects showcasing innovative approaches to solving global issues from around the world.
- Creative Impact: Creative takes on social advocacy that expand understanding and inspire action.
Individual, stand-alone videos between 2 and 20 minutes. Videos merely geared toward fundraising or brand advertising are not accepted.
Individual, stand-alone XR and interactive projects — VR, AR, MR, or 360-degree video — that push the boundaries of immersive impact storytelling.
AI applications within media projects that advance ethical, creative, and socially relevant uses of artificial intelligence.
Companies with a demonstrated track record and commitment to impact storytelling across 5 or more productions. (Documentaries, Narrative, Web Series, Interactive, Video Journalism, Cause Marketing, AI, and XR)
SIMA AWARDS
JUDGING
SIMA's jury is composed of award-winning industry leaders, impact producers, educators, and human rights experts who select winners across all award categories and jury prizes. Films are evaluated for their storytelling, artistic and technical excellence, and their capacity to deepen understanding and engagement with the world. Impact campaigns and production company entries are recognized for their distinctive contributions to the evolving landscape of social impact storytelling.
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.
MAIN AWARDS
Best Documentary
The highest honor recognizing outstanding achievement in documentary storytelling and cultural resonance.
Best Director
For outstanding achievement in directing and creative vision.
Best Cinematography
For outstanding achievement in visual storytelling and cinematic craft.
Best Editing
For outstanding achievement in documentary editing and narrative construction.
JURY PRIZES
Transparency — Investigative Journalism
Honoring work that surfaces hidden context and advances accountability through investigative rigor.
Stylistic Achievement — Creative Excellence
Recognizing bold, distinctive artistic vision and original visual interpretation of the subject.
The Julie Down Award for Human Dignity
Honoring films of exceptional integrity, whose credibility and trustworthiness runs through every layer of their storytelling.
Lens to Action — Social Impact (Sponsored by The Human Sustainability Project)
Recognizing work with strong civic purpose and the power to move audiences toward awareness and action.
Climate Futures
Honoring outstanding storytelling on environmental crisis, resilience, and the pathways forward.
Women Leading Change
Recognizing exceptional storytelling on women driving change and shaping leadership worldwide.
Systemic Change Award < $2500 cash prize (Sponsored by The Foundation for Systemic Change)
Honoring work that illuminates the attributes, processes, and pathways required for lasting structural change.
AWARDS
Humanitas
Recognizing films that bear witness to individuals and communities doing extraordinary work in the world.
Creative Activism
Recognizing originality and creative vision behind work with civic purpose and lasting impact.
JURY PRIZES
Innovation
Recognizing the outstanding innovation of a showcased project.
Impact
Recognizing work that demonstrates potential for lasting, systemic, and responsible transformation.
AWARD
Immersive Impact
The top honor for innovation in immersive documentary and interactive storytelling that deepens engagement and drives civic awareness.
JURY PRIZE
Creative Advocacy
Recognizing creative visualization and adaptation in immersive impact storytelling.
AWARD
Impact AI Award — Ethical AI for Humanity (Sponsored by SOUTS)
Honoring AI applications guided by ethics and human values, spotlighting responsible uses of artificial intelligence that drive meaningful real-world impact.
AWARDS
Vital Voices
Awarded to a production company whose work consistently elevates underrepresented and underserved stories, bringing vital perspectives from the margins to the mainstream.
Creative Impact
Awarded to a production company whose dedication to impact storytelling sets industry standards for quality, innovation, equity, and diversity.
Recognizing the film that moved young audiences worldwide, selected by SIMA Academy’s global student community.
RULES + REGULATIONS
Please read carefully before submitting your work.
ELIGIBILITY
For our upcoming cycle, SIMA 2027, films must be completed between October 2025 and September 2026 to be eligible for entry. Each title is permitted to enter SIMA once. Titles that have entered in previous editions are not permitted to enter 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 all 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.
IMPACT VIDEO — Individual, stand-alone video, between 2 and 20 minutes in length. NOTE: Videos merely geared towards fundraising or brand advertising are NOT ACCEPTED
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 — Individual, stand-alone projects that use artificial intelligence in the creation, subject, or application of the work.
PRODUCTION COMPANY — Registered legal entity with more than 5 impact media productions in its history.
IMPACT CAMPAIGNS — for stand-alone documentaries submitted by Impact Lead (e.g. Impact Producer, Strategist, Film Producer, or Director)
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
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: Production Company and Feature), with each category requiring a separate submission form.
If your submission is shortlisted as a Finalist, SIMA will require an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) to be submitted via email to submit@simaawards.org, together with a high-resolution digital download of your film (MP4 / H.264 / 1080p / 10–25 Mbps).
ENTRY FEES
All entries must be accompanied by the appropriate entry fee.
Entry fees are non-refundable and cover registration, site security, submission management, and notification of results.
Payment is accepted via PayPal and credit card. Payment links are available on the respective Submission Form page.
Early Bird Deadline (September 9th – September 18th)
Documentary Features: $45 | Documentary Shorts: $30 | XR: $45 | Impact Videos: $25 | Impact AI: $45 | Production Companies: $90
Regular Deadline (September 19th – September 25th)
Documentary Features: $50 | Documentary Shorts: $35 | XR: $ 50 | Impact Videos: $30 | Impact AI: $50 | Production Companies: $100
Late Deadline (September 26th – October 9th)
Documentary Features: $65 | Documentary Shorts: $45 | XR: $65 | Impact Videos: $35 | Impact AI: $65 | Production Companies: $130
RIGHTS & PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS
Entry in SIMA grants SIMA the right to use submitted trailers, clips (up to two (2) minutes), trailer thumbnails, still photographs, posters, film descriptions, titles, names, biographical materials and data, trademarks, logos, and related promotional materials for evaluation, publicity, educational, archival, documentary, and promotional purposes. Such materials may be used by SIMA and its promotional partners, sponsors, media partners, educational partners, web aggregators, and other authorized third parties in connection with SIMA’s programs, initiatives, websites, publications, communications, and nonprofit mission. This permission extends to all existing and future media platforms and formats, worldwide, in perpetuity. All submitted materials remain the property of their respective owners.
ENTRANT RESPONSIBILITIES
By submitting a film, Entrants confirm that they are authorized to submit the film and all accompanying promotional materials. Entrants are responsible for securing all permissions, licenses, and clearances necessary for the materials submitted in connection with the Awards, including trailers, still photographs, posters, promotional images, graphics, logos, and related materials.
COPYRIGHT
SIMA respects the intellectual property rights of filmmakers, photographers, artists, distributors, and other rights holders. If SIMA receives a credible claim that submitted materials may infringe the rights of a third party, SIMA reserves the right to remove or temporarily disable access to those materials while the matter is reviewed.
HISTORICAL ARCHIVE
Entrants acknowledge that submitted promotional materials may continue to appear in connection with past editions of the SIMA Awards, historical records, anniversary features, and other documentation and communications relating to SIMA and its nonprofit mission.
ACCEPTANCE OF RULES
Submission of a film constitutes the Entrant’s acknowledgement that they have read and agree to these Rules & Regulations.
SPONSORS
The SIMA Awards are made possible through the generous support of our sponsors and media partners. To explore sponsorship and partnership opportunities for the 2027 Awards, please visit our partnership page or contact us.
