The Social Impact Media (SIMA) Awards have announced the winners of their 13th annual edition, setting new standards of integrity and creativity in global impact storytelling. The awards champion exceptional non-fiction cinema that challenges the status quo, including several Latin American winners.
Igualada, the Colombian documentary by Juan Mejía Botero was the winner of the Systemic Change Award. Echoing Knock Down the House and Mandela, this uplifting documentary chronicles Francia Márquez’s journey from rural grassroots activist to history-making presidential candidate. With exclusive access, the film captures her courageous campaign to become the first Black and first female president of Colombia—a nation marked by deep racial and socio-economic disparities.
Until He’s Back, directed by Mexican filmmaker Jacqueline Baylon, won the awards for Best Documentary Short and Best Sound. A Moroccan production, Until He’s Back follows Ahmed Tchiche, who, after learning that his son Yahya has died at sea while trying to reach Spain, must find a way to bring his remains back home to Morocco for a proper goodbye. Through interwoven narratives, the film explores the perils of migration across the Mediterranean and the challenges of repatriating those lost at sea.
The Venezuelan-American co-production We Exist in Memory / Existimos en la memoria by Darian Woehr received the Stylistic Achievement Jury Prize. The film captures intimate conversations between Maria and her grandchild, Marucha, two Indigenous refugees living in displacement. To Maria, the Venezuelan delta is home; to Marucha, refugee camps are all she has ever known. Through the rhythms of their daily lives, the film explores how land, memory, and identity are deeply intertwined across generations.
The British-Peruvian co-production Where 4x4s Fail by Emily Stoker won the Innovation Jury Prize. To understand and protect the unique fog oases of Peru, botanical researchers from Peru and the UK collaborate with Brazilian paramotorists to collect plant samples from regions too remote and rugged for 4×4 vehicles. Using paramotors, they reach these untouched ecosystems with minimal impact, uncovering crucial information that could aid conservation efforts for future generations.
The Brazilian XR project Origen, Chapter 1: Journey to the Heart of the Amazon Rainforest by Emilia Sánchez Chiquetti received the Immersive Impact Award. This interactive VR experience takes viewers on a poetic journey through the Amazon Rainforest, where first-person encounters reveal the deep interconnectedness between diverse life forms and Mother Earth. As the first chapter of a larger series, the project unites different territories through a shared dialogue with nature.
Additionally, the Mexican animated feature documentary Home Is Somewhere Else by Carlos Hagerman and Jorge Villalobos received a Special Mention. The film offers a window into the hearts and minds of immigrant youth and their undocumented families. This 2D feature “animentary” weaves together three personal stories, voiced by the children and their families, to highlight the complexities of their experiences. Spoken word poet Lalo “El Deportee” serves as the film’s MC, using his vibrant “Spanglish” to challenge linguistic boundaries and invite viewers into the realities of immigrant life. Each story is brought to life with a distinct animation style, immersing audiences in the fears, dreams, and aspirations of these young protagonists.
