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SIMA 2025 FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

STORIES FROM 37 COUNTRIES ADVANCE AS FINALISTS IN THE 13TH ANNUAL SOCIAL IMPACT MEDIA AWARDS (SIMA 2025)

January 9, 2025 — Resilience is an act of quiet bravery. In its silence, revolutions are born. The stories honored in SIMA’s 2025 shortlist stand as powerful testaments to that truth. With narratives spanning 37 countries, these films do more than document our world; they celebrate the extraordinary resolve of individuals and communities who rise, despite the weight of uncertainty, to forge a path toward hope.

From climate activism to cultural preservation, from religion to reclamation, these works shine a light on the beauty and complexity of the human condition—daring us to confront our world’s shadows while embracing the promise of a brighter, more equitable future. Their narratives weave together stark truths with breathtaking artistry, illuminating not only the depths of human adversity but also the boundless potential of humanity’s courage and ingenuity.

“The SIMA 2025 finalists have captured the heart of our shared existence with an intimacy, elegance, and boldness that is profoundly transformative,” says Daniela Kon Lieberberg, Founder and CEO of SIMA. “Their work embodies the true power of storytelling: challenging perspectives, confronting hard truths, and sparking the empathy needed to envision—and act on—building a more equitable world. A heartfelt thank you to all the extraordinary filmmakers for your art, courage, and dedication. We are deeply honored to champion your work.”

For over thirteen years, SIMA has been a platform where the art of documentary storytelling meets the urgency of social impact. This year’s finalists uphold that legacy, breaking barriers in filmmaking and redefining the scope of social justice media. Their work confronts the systems that perpetuate inequality while spotlighting the resilience of those pushing for change—protagonists who inspire hope, accountability, and action.

A Global Reach with Local Impact

SIMA, the world’s leading documentary awards competition and a trailblazer in the social impact film space, remains steadfast in its dedication to creativity, transparency, and integrity. Since 2012, SIMA has served as a vital platform for non-fiction storytellers who push the boundaries of artistic expression, redefining the role of film in advocacy. Through powerful narratives, SIMA elevates stories that challenge the status quo and amplify the voices of marginalized communities.

The SIMA 2025 Finalists now have the opportunity to join Cinema Across Borders, SIMA’s global traveling series that reaches over 30 countries annually. These screenings span diverse forums—from film festivals in Buenos Aires to remote villages in Liberia—sparking dialogues, shifting perspectives, mobilizing local activism, and empowering changemakers and organizations to amplify their impact.

Additionally, select 2025 short documentaries and impact videos will be invited to join SIMA Academy, the organization’s award-winning global education platform. Reaching over 140,000 students in 100+ countries, these films invigorate teacher training programs, youth advocacy workshops, student film clubs, and local impact projects; inspiring the next generation of changemakers.

As the competition moves into the final judging phase, finalists will vie for awards and cash prizes of up to $1,500 per category. Winners will be announced on February 6, 2025.

MEDIA + PRESS

Contact Erinn Sullivan, CMO, SIMA Studios, erinn@simastudios.org

MEET THE FINALISTS

MEDIA KIT

SPONSORS

SIMA’s Sponsors are committed to the collaborative effort of honoring the most thought-provoking documentary films of our time. The 13th Annual SIMA Awards are powered by SIMA Studios, The Foundation for Systemic Change, Human Sustainability Project, FIPADOC, International Documentary Association (IDA), Firelight Media, DC/DOX, Double Exposure, Undocumented Filmmakers Collective, Documentary Organization of Canada (DOC), Documentary Australia, Armenian Film Society, GEN Center for Arts and Sciences, and Instituto Multimedia DerHumALC (IMD).

FEATURE DOCUMENTARY FINALISTS

BLACK SNOW | Alina Simone | Siberia, United States

BOBI WINE: THE PEOPLE'S PRESIDENT | Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp | Uganda

BYE BYE TIBERIAS | Lina Soualem | France, Palestine

HOLLYWOODGATE | Ibrahim Nash'at | Germany, Afghanistan

IGUALADA | Juan Mejia | Colombia

MADE IN ETHIOPIA | Xinyan Yu and Max Duncan | Ethiopia, United States

MARCHING IN THE DARK | Kinshuk Surjan | Belgium, Netherlands, India

MEDIHA | Hasan Oswald | United States, Iraq, Turkey, Syria

MY STOLEN PLANET | Farahnaz Sharifi | Germany, Iran

QUEENDOM | Agniia Galdanova | Russia, United States

SABBATH QUEEN | Sandi Dubowski | United States

SUGARCANE | Julian Brave Noisecat and Emily Kassie | Canada

THE BROTHER - BONG THOM | Zaradasht Ahmed | Cambodia

UNION | Stephen Maing and Brett Story | United States

ZURAWSKI V TEXAS Maisie Crow and Abbie Perrault | United States

SHORT DOCUMENTARY FINALISTS

A MOVE (خونه) | Elahe Esmaili | Iran

CHASING ROO | Skye Fitzgerald | Australia

ENCHUNKUNOTO (THE RETURN) | Laissa Malih | Kenya

ETERNAL FATHER | Ömer Sami | Denmark

M/OTHER | Iris Zaki | Israel

MOURNING SUNSHINE | Maria Besora and Pep Garrido | Spain

ONLY IF THE BABY CRIES... | Farooq Shadab | India

PUBLIC DEFENDER | Andrea Kalin | United States

STRANGLED | Robin Narciso and Thomas Cristofoletti | Cambodia

THE LAST ICE AGE | Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee and Adam Loften | Iceland

UNTIL HE'S BACK | Jacqueline Baylon | Morocco

WE EXIST IN MEMORY (EXISTIMOS EN LA MEMORIA) | Darian Woehr | United States, Venezuela

WOULDN'T MAKE IT ANY OTHER WAY | Hao Zhou | United States

IMPACT VIDEO FINALISTS

A HAND TO HOLD | United States | Reed Martin

ADIDAS OWNS THE REALITY | Keil Troisi and Igor Vamos | United States

AT THE SALTY WATER (BY DIE SOUTWATER) | Marguerite Venter | South Africa

BURNT COUNTRY | Kirsten Slemint | Australia

DANCING PAST THE ODDS | Jeanette Lim | Singapore

FORWARD | Palmer Morse | United States

HUSH NOW. | Laen Sanches | France

STRENGTH IN UNITY: PMIEF & SPECIAL OLYMPICS UKRAINE | Adrian Begon | United Kingdom

THE HAPPINESS SHOP | Brianna Avnell | United States

UNCLE BULLY'S SURF SKOOL | Leah Warshawski and Todd Soliday | United States

WEAVING DREAMS | Ibtisem Ben Nassib | Malaysia

WHERE 4X4S FAIL | Emily Stoker | United Kingdom, Peru

XR (EXTENDED REALITY) FINALISTS

HEARTBEAT | Dee Harvey | Ireland

MURMURATION | Patricia Bergeron and Ali Kays | Canada

ORIGEN, CHAPTER 1: JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF THE AMAZON RAINFOREST | Emilia Sánchez Chiquetti | Brazil

SILVER CORD | Tiyam Yabandeh | Iran

SOUL PAINT | Sarah Ticho and Niki Smit | United Kingdom

THIS IS MY HEART (CECI EST MON COEUR) | Nicolas Blies and Stéphane Hueber-Blies | Luxembourg

TRACES OF RESPONSIBILITY | Anja Reiss and Jann Anderegg | Switzerland

IMPACT CAMPAIGN FINALISTS

!AITSA | Dane Dodds

A RECKONING IN BOSTON | Marga Varea

A TOWN CALLED VICTORIA | Li Lu and Michael Latt

ABUNDANCE: THE FARMLINK PROJECT | Risa Fox

ANONYMOUS SISTER | Eliza Licht

ANOTHER BODY | Elizabeth Woodward

BIG FIGHT IN LITTLE CHINATOWN | Karen Cho

HOME IS SOMEWHERE ELSE | Mariana Marin

THE FEELING OF BEING WATCHED | Ahlam Said

THE ILLUSION OF ABUNDANCE | Matthieu Lietaert

VICTIM /SUSPECT | Eliza Licht

PRODUCTION COMPANY FINALISTS

BYKIDS

CLIN D'OEIL FILMS

FIELD OF VISION

INFLATABLE FILM

MULTITUDE FILMS

OPTIMIST

OUR BETTER WORLD

SHINE GLOBAL INC

UNIVERSE CREATIVE

WILLA

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