6 of the Best Short Films from the 2021 Social Impact Media Awards

February 10, 2021 CATALYST Team

In 2020, filmmakers told stories from around the globe that deeply reflect humanity and resilience. Here are the best of SIMA’s 2021 documentary short finalists.

Stills from 2021 Social Impact Media Awards finalists. Courtesy of SIMA.

The annual Social Impact Media Awards (SIMA) work to celebrate creativity and integrity in “social impact storytelling.” This global awards organization screens projects from over 140 countries and selects the most impactful and innovative films to include in SIMA’s media reserve. SIMA includes full-length documentaries, virtual reality experiences and short documentary films in its award categories. While most of the finalists are still under streaming restrictions because of the festival circuit, SIMA offers a monthly “staff pick” that can be streamed here. The six documentary shorts below are SIMA finalists that will take you around the globe in under 30 minutes.

1. “My Brother’s Keeper” | Mauritania

Salahi in Mauritania. Courtesy of SIMA.

This documentary, directed and produced by Laurence Topham, recounts the unlikely bond between two men: Mohamedou Ould Salahi, a man who was detained at Guantanamo Bay for 14 years, and Steve Wood, his prison guard. In a poignant reflection on innocence and forgiveness, Topham follows both men as they reunite in Nouakchott, Mauritania. Watch the trailer from the Tribeca Film Festival here.

2. “El Infierno” | Sierra Leone

Chennu covering his face. Courtesy of SIMA.

Directed by Raul de la Fuente, this short film follows Chennu, born a street child in Freetown, Sierra Leone. At 15, Chennu found himself in Freetown’s adult prison. After four years, Chennu is back on the streets and trying desperately to stay afloat. In this reflection on crime, survival and childhood, de la Fuente brings viewers into the desperate struggle for personhood on Freetown’s cutthroat streets. The trailer is available for viewing here.

3. “Witness: Elephants in My Backyard” | India

Sanctuary workers riding elephants. Courtesy of SIMA.

In India, elephants are at risk of complete extinction as a combination of environmental and political factors decimate their habitats. Director Vikram Singh follows conservationists Vinod Krishnan and Dr. Anand Kumar in their attempt to pioneer a new method of human and elephant coexistence. The team’s efforts to transform India’s relationship with elephants is a poignant dissection of one of India’s pressing environmental concerns. Watch the entire film here.

4. “Hunger Ward” | Yemen

A Yemeni child in a therapeutic feeding center. Courtesy of SIMA.

For the past several years, Yemen has stood on the verge of complete famine. In this documentary short, director Skye Fitzgerald follows two women, Dr. Aida Alsadeeq and nurse Mekkia Mahdi, in their fight to rescue malnourished children from death. In a country seldom portrayed in the media, this documentary offers unprecedented footage of a war-torn land populated with children in desperate need of medical care. Watch the trailer here.

5. “How Far is Home” | United States

Ruba Mohammed giving a class presentation. Courtesy of SIMA.

Director Apo W. Bazidi tells the story of two teenage Iraqi refugees, Ahmed and Ruba Mohammed, as they navigate Thomas Jefferson International Newcomers Academy, a school in Cleveland specifically designed to help refugee children adapt to life in the United States. Bazidi frames the narrative around former President Donald Trump’s immigration ban, which escalates the emotionality and tension within this 20-minute documentary. Watch the chilling and inspiring movie here.

6. “Siona: Amazon’s Defenders Under Threat” | Colombia

Adiela Jinet Mera in the Colombian jungle. Courtesy of SIMA.

The Siona people, an Indigenous group in Ecuador and Colombia, have largely been displaced due to the exploitation of the region that began in the late 19th century. This documentary, directed by Tom Laffay, follows Siona leader Adiela Jinet Mera, who leads her community’s effort to remove mines left behind by decades of armed conflict. In this 10-minute film, Mera works desperately to preserve her people’s language, culture and ancestry. You can watch the film now on The New Yorker’s website.