Social Impact Media Awards

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SIMA Studios, also known as the Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA), is a nonprofit organization in Los Angeles that uses documentary storytelling to advance human rights, education, and global awareness. It was founded in 2012 by Daniela Kon Lieberberg and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization.

Programs
- SIMA Awards: The annual international documentary competition that highlights global justice and social change.
- SIMA Academy: An edtech platform (formerly SIMA Classroom) that provides media literacy and civic education through curated documentaries.
- SIMA Cinema Across Borders: A traveling screening series that brings impact films to grassroots audiences in the Global South.
- Fiscal Sponsorship: Helps independent creators raise grant money for non-commercial media projects by providing legal and financial support.

A look back
- SIMA started with the SIMA Awards in 2012. SIMA Classroom launched in 2015 and was renamed SIMA Academy in 2022. The Fiscal Sponsorship program began in 2018.
- The SIMA Awards have honored about 630 films and supported more than 4,200 filmmakers from 147 countries.
- Notable past honorees include acclaimed works like Navalny, To Kill a Tiger, and Writing with Fire.

Impact and reach
- SIMA Academy, described as “the Netflix for changemakers,” reaches roughly 147,000 students and 5,300 educators in 106 countries.
- The Cinema Across Borders program has facilitated over 600 screenings in 57 countries through 59 fellows, engaging more than 200,000 attendees.

Recognition
- SIMA and its programs have been covered by major outlets such as The Guardian, HuffPost, and KPBS, and featured by industry groups including Media Impact Funders, UNESCO APCEIU, and others.
- The Representation Project has documented SIMA’s impact on education, media distribution, and community engagement. SIMA Academy has received recognition from the Anthem Awards and EdTech Digest.

Mission
SIMA’s goal is to ignite social change through documentary storytelling, using media to build empathy, raise awareness, and drive activism in classrooms, communities, and global networks.