STORIES FROM 34 COUNTRIES ADVANCE AS FINALISTS IN THE 8TH ANNUAL SOCIAL IMPACT MEDIA AWARDS (SIMA 2020)
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LOS ANGELES (January 10, 2019) – SIMA 2020 finalists represent the most cutting edge social-issue filmmaking of our time.
From an incorruptible journalist putting her life on the line to preserve democracy in Silence Radio, to an interactive augmented reality experience that brings you into the home of a Syrain family coming under fire in The Right Choice, this year’s lineup of SIMA Finalists gives us X-ray vision into the state of our world.
“We are witnessing extraordinary times. Communities are coming together like never before to take a collective stance against injustice, against the exploitation of our planet, against the way the crimes of history of discrimination and oppression have gone unpunished with no lessons learned. SIMA 2020 filmmakers are directing their lenses courageously towards those that are saying “enough!’ We are honored to amplify these vital voices.” - Daniela Kon, SIMA Founder and Executive
Through captivating storytelling, remarkable access and astonishing imagery, this year’s often deeply personal films bring us face-to-face with our most pressing global issues. From heroic examples of environmental advocacy (Jozi Gold, and 2040), systemic racism, Islamophobia and injustice (Always in Season, The Feeling of Being Watched, Advocate, and Dying for Gold), to homophobia, (Gay Chorus Deep South), gentrification (Anbessa and Push) and the struggle for equity and reproductive rights (Mothers of), in addition to untold stories like that of a Baltimore child who grew up homeless and went on to become a worldclass symphony musician and professor (R.A.W. Tuba), and the shared pain of political prisoners through the lens of a woman who was born in one of the most notorious political prisons in the world (Born in Evin), these inspiring tales of empathy, resilience and progress are nothing short of extraordinary, and are sure to raise the bar for content creators around the globe.
Widening the scope of appreciation with recognition of two new award categories, SIMA 2020 selected 11 production companies from six countries as finalists, whose body of work demonstrates outstanding achievements in advancing social change. In addition, six Impact Media Funders were shortlisted, whose support of social impact media is uniquely empowering the work of content creators in the field.
Finalists in the film categories were selected from 365 entries from over 100 countries around the world. The short-listed films are now eligible for entry into SIMA’s global community screening series, SIMA X, and online education platform, SIMA Classroom, which reaches over 50,000 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 07, 2020.
List of SIMA 2020 finalists: simaawards.org/2020-finalists
More information: simaawards.org
To download the SIMA 2020 press kit, click here.
ABOUT SIMA
SIMA (Social Impact Media Awards) is a global curator and impact media agency dedicated to advancing cross-cultural understanding, human rights and education by celebrating contemporary social-issue documentaries of excellence, screening films in communities and classrooms worldwide, and supporting content creators, educators and changemakers.
SIMA 2020 SPONSORS
SIMA’s Sponsors are committed to the collaborative effort of honoring the most thought-provoking documentary films of our time. Sponsors include: Seed & Spark, Black Magic Design, NoNot, Hestorias En Kilametros (HEK), WeTransfer, Human Sustainability, and DEEDA.
MEDIA CONTACT
Erinn Sullivan
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