19/01/2025
This time we are a SIMA Studios + Awards finalist but not for our film..
The !AITSA OUTREACH story is a gift, from one traveller to another, based on our shared journey through the cosmos.
Making the film !AITSA was a seven year journey during which time we encountered individuals and communities across the Great Karoo and Kalahari. Early on, along one of the long dusty roads, we realised that our task as filmmakers should reach beyond filmmaking.
What became the !AITSA OUTREACH was motivated by a deep wish to give back to the communities that played a role in shaping the !AITSA narrative. The campaign is also a commitment to ongoing conversations and engagement regarding identity, self-determination and culture.
We are more than honoured to receive a SIMA nomination because it recognises our motivations and the SIMA mission: “We exist to advance global awareness, social justice, human rights and education by supporting filmmakers and content creators on the front-lines of social change, amplifying their works to inspire activism, compassion and social transformation.” 🙏🏽
Global impact storytelling is a big thing and we were a small team — Dane Dodds, Pauline Shrosbree, Amy Rusch, Neil Rusch, Rasmus Bitsch, Ayanda Kondlo, Shanna Freedman, Brandon Eckardt — representing two film companies MED CINE and Sunshine Cinema. Together we traveled over 4,000 kilometers and hosted 11 free screenings — to say thank you — under the stars of the Karoo and Kalahari.
“The SIMA 2025 finalists have captured the heart of our shared existence with an intimacy, elegance, and boldness that is profoundly transformative. 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.”
– Daniela Kon Lieberberg, SIMA Founder and CEO
SIMA Studios + Awards
A massive thank you to all our partners, public donations and volunteers that helped make this vision possible!
