SIMA Student Leadership Spotlight
I’m honored to be featured in the Student Leadership Spotlight by SIMA Academy. For me, documentary film isn’t just entertainment—it’s a tool to reflect, learn, and take action.
At my Boarding College, I founded the SIMA Impact Film Screening Club, a space where students from diverse cultures come together to explore global issues and spark meaningful conversations through social impact films.
My goal is to show that young people can use education and storytelling to raise awareness, inspire empathy, and mobilize communities for positive change. Every screening reminds us that our choices matter, and that together we can transform the world.
Why I support SIMA
“I’ve seen firsthand how SIMA uses powerful storytelling to connect people and drive change, and I’m proud to be part of their board. I wanted to pass along this note from Daniela about what’s next—you’ll see why I believe so strongly in their mission.” - Emilio
Ethologics is a SIMA partner, and we host screenings and conversations. Our goal is to empower students and educators to engage in dialogue and inspire positive participation beyond the screen. We aim to strengthen our community by creating collaborative environments that promote critical thinking and empathy.
PROGRAMS + SERVICES
AWARDS
The annual SIMA Awards honor eye-opening documentaries, production companies, XR, and impact campaigns that exemplify excellence in their potential to inspire social change. Each year, projects are selected from over 140 countries around the world, competing for awards, cash prizes, media features, and entry into SIMA’s impact distribution channels.
DISTRIBUTION
Their International distribution channels: SIMA Academy and Cinema Across Borders, maximize the impact and exposure of the best films from our annual awards. Through unique partnerships and collaborations with educational institutions, human rights forums, film festivals and changemakers, they bring social impact storytelling into classrooms and communities worldwide, igniting awareness, education and engagement from the grassroots level and up
“Through SIMA we were able to reach thousands of people via documentaries ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE CLOSE TO OUR HEARTS, to make our problems visible, to give the solutions a stage to be seen and to inspire change”.
Carlo Steensma, Community Director, QS Impact
JUDGING
SIMA’s JURY of award-winning media industry leaders, impact producers, educators, film and human rights experts select winners for each award category and jury prize. Films are judged on their storytelling, artistic and technical merit and their potential to ignite critical consciousness, best practices and actions for progressive change. Impact Campaigns and entries from Production Companies are judged on their unique contributions to the landscape and culture of social impact storytelling.
My Role as a JUDGE
I became an official Jury member, a global ambassador as well as the sponsor of 4 category prizes: Ethos, Lens to Action, Impact, and Innovation, since the last award season through my project Ethologics.
SIMA Academy now brings films to 140,000+ students in more than 100 countries, turning classrooms into hubs for empathy, creativity, and action. Students launched zero-waste initiatives in school cafeterias in the US, started small businesses supporting women in India, restored 200 trees to fight deforestation in Sri Lanka, and connected across nations, identities, and faiths through student film clubs—the ripples of change and possibility keep growing.
Dear Friends,
A single story has the power to shift perspectives, spark conversations, and ignite movements. But a story’s potential is only realized when it is propelled into the world. That’s where SIMA comes in.
For more than a decade, SIMA has worked at the intersection of fearless artistry and social good—because we know documentary storytelling, when rooted in authenticity and creative integrity, is fatal to prejudice. We have championed the world’s most critical stories, serving filmmakers, changemakers, students, and educators in more than 100 countries.
This past year alone:
Cinema Across Borders, our community screening program, reached 21,000 attendees in 15 countries, sparking climate initiatives, health coalitions, and village committees addressing domestic violence.
We welcomed 29 new Fellows—community organizers from Peru, Nepal, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Laos—who continue to host screenings that mobilize local action.
SIMA Academy now brings award-winning films to 160,000+ students in more than 100 countries. Students launched zero-waste initiatives in school cafeterias in the U.S., started small businesses supporting women in India, restored 200 trees to fight deforestation in Sri Lanka, and connected across nations, identities, and faiths through student film clubs. The ripples of change keep multiplying.
Make a Donation
Your support makes this possible.
By joining one of our Giving Circles, you become a partner in advancing this critical work.
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Changemaker Circle ($100/month or $1,200/year): Fuel educational access to award-winning impact films for thousands of students worldwide.
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Storyteller Circle ($250/month or $3,000/year): Amplify visionary filmmakers tackling the world’s most pressing issues with courage and integrity.
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Visionary Circle ($500/month or $6,000/year): Expand Cinema Across Borders, bringing films to underserved communities and transforming screenings into movements.
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Catalyst Circle ($1,000/month or $12,000/year): Champion SIMA’s mission at scale—funding bold programming, amplifying authentic voices, and safeguarding human-centered storytelling for generations to come.