Stories from 27 countries advance as finalists in the 12th Annual Social Impact Media Awards #SIMA2024
January 11, 2024 — Only history has the power to define the genesis of a global paradigm shift, but when you’re living inside of one, it’s a slow burn. There is no single moment of change, but instead a cascading series of both small and cataclysmic events happening simultaneously. Good storytelling not only informs the future through artful documentation of these events; it connects us to our existence within them: humanity. This is what sets apart the finalists of the 12th Annual Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA 2024) in the festival landscape of documentary filmmaking. Not their ability to capture time, but their ability to wield it.
From casualties of war to casualties of climate change; from insulin to Alzheimer’s; spanning 27 nations, from China to Chile — the SIMA 2024 Finalists give us unprecedented insight into the state of our world and those at work to change the status quo.
“SIMA 2024 Finalists reimagine a future that is worth fighting for. They bring us hauntingly close to the reality we are up against through a most powerful and vital lens that captures the resilience and beauty of our shared humanity with unparalleled access and intimacy. Thank you to all the filmmakers for your bravery and for sharing your art with the world. We are honored to support and amplify your work.” — Daniela Kon Lieberberg, SIMA Founder & CEO
For over a decade, the finalists that pass through SIMA have been exposing the injustices happening across our world — inviting audiences to reimagine the world and their power within it. Good storytelling has always been an effective vehicle for change and this year’s SIMA 2024 Finalists have set the gold standard for what that responsibility means. Through compelling narratives and unparalleled access, these bold and diverse filmmakers not only amplify the voices of marginalized communities and individuals but also motivate and embolden audiences to interrogate and challenge the oppressive systems hindering our future from realizing its full potential.
The SIMA 2024 Finalists are now eligible for entry into SIMA’s Global Traveling Series and online education platform, SIMA Academy, which reaches over 117,000 students around the globe. Now moving on to the final round of judging, they will compete for awards and cash prizes of up to $1,000 per category. Winners will be announced on February 8, 2024.
PRESS CONTACT
Erinn Sullivan, CMO, SIMA Studios
erinn@simastudios.org
SIMA 2024 SPONSORS
SIMA’s Sponsors are committed to the collaborative effort of honoring the most thought-provoking documentary films of our time. The 12th Annual SIMA Awards are powered by SIMA Studios, Milatido, Foundation of Systemic Change, GSR Foundation, International Documentary Association (IDA), Doc Society, Firelight Media, DC/DOX, Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC), Documentary Australia, and Instituto Multimedia DerHumALC (IMD).
MEET THE FINALISTS OF THE 12TH ANNUAL SOCIAL IMPACT MEDIA AWARDS (SIMA 2024):
FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES
ANHELL69
Theo Montoya | Colombia
Between the Rains
Andrew H. Brown and Moses Thuranira | Kenya
DONGA
Muhannad Lamin | Libya
Eat Bitter
Ningyi Sun and Pascale Appora-Gnekindy | Central African Republic and China
If the Streets Were on Fire
Alice Russell | UK
The Eternal Memory (La Memoria Infinita)
Maite Alberdi | Chile
Mourning In Lod
Hilla Medalia | Israel and Palestine
Pay or Die
Scott Alexander Ruderman and Rachael Dyer | USA
Samuel e a Luz (Samuel and the Light)
Vinícius Girnys | Brazil and France
To Kill a Tiger
Nisha Pahuja | India
Twice Colonized
Lin Alluna | Canada, Denmark, Greenland, and Sweden
Who I Am Not
Tunde Skovran | South Africa
SHORT DOCUMENTARIES
Between Earth & Sky
Andrew Nadkarni | USA and Costa Rica
میشه بغلت کنم؟ (CAN I HUG YOU?)
Elahe Esmaili | Iran
Finding Alaa
Myriam Francois | France and Belgium
How to Carry Water
Sasha Wortzel | USA
Into the Blue
Ömer Sami | Denmark
Jack and Sam
Jordan Matthew Horowitz | USA
Last Song from Kabul
Kevin Macdonald | Afghanistan and Portugal
قناة فجأة (Suddenly TV)
Roopa Gogineni | Sudan
The Barber of Little Rock
Christine Turner and John Hoffman | USA
The Takeover
Anders Hammer | Afghanistan
Waking Up In Silence
Mila Zhluktenko and Daniel Asadi Faezi | Germany
IMPACT VIDEOS
Brewing Change
Mamta Singh | India
Colorful Souls
Abby Cannon and Charlie Schaff | Guatemala
Empowerment In Action: The Eco Spanish School Story
Yuelin Liu | Guatemala
Grey Power
Lara Van Raay | Tasmania
ifine (beauty)
Adisa Septuri and Ebony Gilbert | Sierra Leone
Ocean’s Harbor House
Jacqueline Romano | USA
One Million Experiments
Caullen Hudson | USA and Puerto Rico
Radio Dadaab
Environmental Justice Foundation | Kenya
The Script
Brit Fryer and Noah Schamus | USA
This Is Where I Learned Not To Sleep
Kirsten Kelly and Anne De Mare | USA
XR + AI (EXTENDED REALITY + ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE)
Apu — The weeping gods
Remi Sowa | Peru, Norway and UK
By bringing a poem to life I roused the machines’ souls
Maxime Coton and Jamil Mehdaoui | Belgium
Dreams of Change (BackpackX)
Pakistan | Maliha Abidi
Lou : Enfant (Lou : Kid)
Martine Asselin and Annick Daigneault | Canada
NOIRE (COLORED)
Pierre-Alain Giraud | France
No Place But Here
Dylan Valley and Annie Nisenson | South Africa
PLSTC
Laen Sanches | France
Reimagined
Michaela Ternasky-Holland and Julie Cavaliere | Germany, Philippines, and Nigeria
PRODUCTION COMPANIES
SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
