Social Impact Media Awards

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Social Impact Media Awards is an annual media competition run by a non-profit impact media agency SIMA Studios. SIMA Studios curates and distributes documentaries and creative media projects.

History[edit]

SIMA was founded by Daniela Kon Lieberberg in 2012, pioneering an annual global awards program for non-fiction storytelling focused on social, humanitarian, and human rights issues. The Social Impact Media Awards/ SIMA Awards honor documentaries (features and shorts), impact videos, XR projects and production companies that exemplify excellence in their potential to inspire social change. Each year, projects are selected from over 140 countries around the world, competing for awards, cash prizes, media features, and entry into SIMAs global distribution channels. [1]

SIMAs distribution channels comprise the educational streaming platform SIMA Academy and the international community screening series, SIMA Traveling Series, that amplify the impact and exposure of the films from their annual awards. Through partnerships and collaborations with international organizations, educational institutions, and change-makers, SIMA brings social impact storytelling into communities and classrooms in over 100 countries.[2]

In 2018, SIMA Studios launched its Fiscal Sponsorship program to support international media projects that inspire social change.[3]

Programs[edit]

SIMA Awards[edit]

SIMA Awards started as an international media competition honoring achievements in the creative, human rights, and humanitarian fields.[4] Its mission consists of promoting and exhibiting the work of independent filmmakers, activists, and change-makers that may otherwise have been overlooked.[5]

The awards are hosted online. Films are selected for the following categories: Documentary Features, Documentary Shorts, Virtual Reality/360 Video/Extended Reality/AI, and Impact Videos.[6] Additional jury prizes are awarded to projects that reflect a core principle of SIMA's mission. The annual jury prizes included: Ethos, Stylistic Achievement, Lens to Action, and Transparency.[7]

SIMA Traveling Series[edit]

The SIMA Traveling Series is a year-round community screening program which makes SIMA Studios' catalogue of films available to grassroots activists, organizations and festivals across 26 countries.

Every year, SIMA Studios selects SIMA Award-winning films to join its screening collection. SIMA screening events have been co-hosted by Human Rights Watch,[8] Impact Hub (Global Network),[9] Bay Street Film Festival,[10] Skirball Cultural Center[11] and UN Women.[12]

SIMA Academy[edit]

SIMA Academy (formerly known as SIMA Classroom) is a streaming platform powered by Vimeo OTT for educators and students. The platform includes lesson plans, playlists, and teaching aids.[13] It is currently[when?] in use by 4,660 teachers and 117,420 students.[14] The program has collaborated with the Skirball Cultural Center and UNESCO-APCEIU to screen films for students and educators.[15][16] SIMA Academy won a 2024 Anthem Award for "Education, Art, & Culture: Literacy Platform".[17] SIMA Academy also won the EdTech Award in 2023[18] and 2020[19] for "Cool Tool: Content Provider Solution".

Fiscal Sponsorship[edit]

SIMA Studios has a Fiscal Sponsorship program that enables creative impact projects to raise tax-deductible funds in the US, in all stages of development, production, post-production, distribution, outreach and impact campaigns.[20] As of 2024, SIMA represents over 50 projects.[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Social Impact Media Agency | SIMA Studios | About". SIMA Studios. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  2. ^ Sachdev, Nina (2019-09-25). "Unleashing the power of impact media in education: A Q&A with SIMA Studios". Media Impact Funders. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  3. ^ "SIMA Studios". Fiscal Sponsor Directory. 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  4. ^ "The Unbearable Lightness of Non-Profit Propaganda". 9 September 2015.
  5. ^ "The Unbearable Lightness of Non-Profit Propaganda". Everyday Ambassador. 2015-09-09. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  6. ^ "5th Annual Int'l Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) 2017 Opens for Film Entries - Filmmakers Fans". filmmakersfans.com. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  7. ^ "Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA)". Filmfestivals.com. 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2018-06-04.
  8. ^ "FILM SCREENING: Tell Spring Not to Come This Year - The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles". The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  9. ^ "Unlikely Allies: SIMA Impact Videos: 7 Short Films from S..." Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  10. ^ "Film - The Well: Water Voices From Ethiopia | Lakehead University". Lakehead University. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  11. ^ "Five Social Impact Films Worth Seeing this Summer - The Culture List". The Culture List. 2016-04-18. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  12. ^ "SIMA Short Film Screening Series: examining violence against women through film". Eventbrite. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  13. ^ Campaign, UN SDG Action (2023-12-20). "SIMA Studios: Advancing positive social change through documentaries and creative media". UNITE TO ACT Blog Series. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  14. ^ "SIMA Classroom – Education Resources". HRE USA. 2017-07-05. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  15. ^ "Empowerment and Self-Expression". Skirball Cultural Center. 2017-05-04. Retrieved 2018-05-11.
  16. ^ "FILM PORTAL FOR CHANGEMAKERS". Air Amber. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  17. ^ "SIMA Academy Honored as Silver Anthem Winner of "Education, Art, & Culture: Literacy Platform" in 2024 Anthem Awards". www.linkedin.com. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  18. ^ "2023 Finalists & Winners". EdTech Digest. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  19. ^ "2020 Finalists & Winners". EdTech Digest. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  20. ^ "SIMA Studios | Fiscal Sponsor Directory". Retrieved 2024-02-20.
  21. ^ "Featured Projects". SIMA Studios. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
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