sima 2017

5th Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) 2017 Opens for VR Entries

Grab your VR headsets: the Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) is now open for entries, spearheading the first awards for Virtual Reality Impact Filmmaking.

 

WHAT
SIMA is looking for original, wise, brave, eye-opening and creative productions that increase the awareness of viewers to global injustices, to the resilience of humans facing deprivation, to the politics of international development, and to efforts and agents of change worldwide. Entry Categories include: Feature Documentaries, Short Documentaries, Virtual Reality (VR) Films, and Impact Videos, capturing global innovations and creative advocacy.

 

WHEN
Early Bird Deadline (September 8th – September 29th)
Regular Deadline (September 30th – October 13th)
Late Deadline (October 14th – October 27th)

 

WHERE
Submit your films to http://bit.ly/SIMA2017 by October 27, 2016.

 

AWARD CATEGORIES
• DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AWARDS
Best Documentary | Best Director | Best Cinematography | Best Editing | Best Sound Editing
• VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) AWARDS
Best VR Experience | Best Director | Best Cinematography | Best Editing | Best Sound Experience
• DOCUMENTARY SHORT AWARDS
Best Short Documentary | Best Director | Best Cinematography | Best Editing | Best Sound Editing
• IMPACT VIDEO AWARDS
Humanitas | Creative Activism
• DOCUMENTARY JURY PRIZES
Transparency | Stylistic Achievement | Ethos | Lens to Action
• VIRTUAL REALITY (VR) JURY PRIZES
Immersive Impact | Experimental Advocacy | Journalistic Achievement
• IMPACT VIDEO JURY PRIZES
Innovation | Impact

Check the top Youtube 360 video collection

 

For the past five years SIMA has set the industry standard for what truly constitutes a “social impact film,” as one that pushes the boundaries of the genre and challenges audiences to engage with social justice topics around the world. This year they officially open that door to virtual reality (VR) films and filmmakers.

 

“SIMA gives us X-ray vision into the state of the world, into the movements that shape social and political climates, and the players, the trailblazers, the activists behind them. We’re excited to find out if VR is indeed an empathy machine that can change the way we participate in what’s happening.” – Daniela Kon, Founder and Executive Director of SIMA.

 

“These courageous filmmakers and activists re-imagine socio-political filmmaking. They set new standards for transparency, integrity, and creativity, while transforming their cameras, their narratives, and by extension their audiences, into vehicles for social justice. We’re proud to champion such an extraordinary range of global stories and filmmakers at the Skirball, and look forward to meeting the demands of LA audiences in the midst of a national debate on diversity in the film industry.” – Daniela Kon, SIMA Founder and Executive Director

 

“[SIMA films are] visual storytelling that can affect your mind, body, and soul.” – David Craig, Assistant Professor at USC’s Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism

 

“SIMA is quickly becoming the gold standard for social impact films, and the genre is quickly becoming our planet’s truest form of journalism. The content SIMA draws is jaw dropping.” – Trevor Hall, President of Creative Visions Foundation

 

From September 8 to October 27, 2016, SIMA is accepting submissions for feature-length and short-format documentaries, virtual reality (VR) films, and impact videos that move, enlighten, and have the potential to transform the way we see and act. Think: stunning social issue and advocacy films with inspirational subjects and blood-pumping storytelling from around the globe. “The content SIMA draws is jaw-dropping,” says Jury Member Trevor Hall, Co-Founder of RebelHouse.

 

From Sundance winners like Dreamcatcher and Who is Dayani Cristal? to hidden gems missing from the international film circuit like The Well and Tomorrow We Disappear, SIMA celebrates the best social impact documentaries from every corner of the globe. And they’re not just rich in diversity storytelling: last year, more than half of SIMA’s 255 submissions were from female filmmakers, and poured in from over 140 countries.

 

ABOUT THE 2017 SIMA AWARDS:
The 5th annual SIMA Awards honor eye-opening impact cinema that exemplifies excellence in its potential to inspire social change. Each year, films compete for awards, cash prizes, industry accolades, media features, distribution opportunities, entry into SIMA’s signature film programs and a chance to be showcased at the SIMA 2017 Winners Festival. Winners will be announced on February 9, 2017. SUBMIT YOUR FILMS HERE.

 

Author: VR Reporter

I am a hi-tech enthusiast, VR evangelist, and a Co-founder & Chief Director at Virtual Reality Reporter!

Share This Post On

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *