Thinking about coming to your first San Jose International Short Film Festival this fall? Good call. The 17th annual festival runs October 16–19, 2025, at Cinemark’s CineArts Theatre at Santana Row in San Jose, and it’s one of the easiest film festivals in the Bay Area to say yes to: one theater, four days, more than 150 short films from around the world, and great food a few minutes’ walk from your seat.
If you’ve never been, here’s everything I wish someone had told me before my first year: how the festival and passes work, where to park, eat and stay, and which programs to pick if you’re bringing the kids.
How the Festival Works
The films are grouped into programs, or blocks, each built around a theme or genre: comedy, documentary, animation, sci-fi, drama, World Cinema, family films and more. Each block usually features six to ten shorts, so if one film isn’t your thing, the next one is only minutes away. Many screenings wrap up with a Q&A with filmmakers in the room, and audiences vote for their favorites all weekend long. Those Audience Choice picks come back for encore screenings on closing night, alongside the jury’s award winners.
How Passes Work
- General Admission tickets get you into a single block. They’re the easiest way to try the festival: pick one or two programs that sound fun and go.
- Day Passes cover every block on one day of the festival, perfect if you have a free Saturday and want to make a day of it.
- VIP All Access Passes get you into every screening all four days, plus the Opening Night Screening & Afterparty, the VIP Lounge, the Awards Screening & Event, a festival T-shirt and a commemorative pass and lanyard. If you think you’ll see more than a handful of blocks, it’s the best value.
Tickets and passes go on sale on our Tickets page ahead of the festival. If there’s a program you really don’t want to miss, grab your ticket early.
Getting There and Parking
CineArts is right on Santana Row at 3088 Olsen Drive, San Jose, CA 95128, just off Stevens Creek Boulevard and close to I-280 and I-880.
Santana Row has public parking garages where the first two hours of self-parking are free, with an hourly fee after that up to a daily maximum. If you’re planning back-to-back blocks, budget for a few dollars of parking. Valet parking is also available outside Hotel Valencia. Rates can change, so check santanarow.com for the latest before you go.
Rideshare drop-offs are easy, and VTA buses run along Stevens Creek Boulevard if you’d rather leave the car at home.
Where to Eat
This is where Santana Row really shines. You can grab a quick bite between blocks or settle in for a long dinner after the last screening, all a short walk from the theater. A few favorites: Pizza Antica for an easy group dinner, Dumpling Time when you need something fast, Momosan for a bowl of ramen, Augustine for a special night out and Smitten Ice Cream for a treat between screenings. Need a coffee refill? Blue Bottle Coffee is right on the Row.
Double-check hours before you head out, and on festival Saturday it’s smart to book ahead or get on a waitlist before your block lets out.
Where to Stay
Coming in from out of town? Hotel Valencia Santana Row sits right on the Row, just a few minutes’ walk from the theater, so you can stroll back after the late screenings. For a more budget-friendly option, The Row Hotel on Stevens Creek Boulevard is about a 15-minute walk away and offers free parking. You’ll find plenty more hotels a short drive away in San Jose, Santa Clara and Cupertino, and San José Mineta International Airport is only about 15 minutes away by car.
Make a Day of It
Got time between blocks? Santana Row is made for wandering, with dozens of shops along its tree-shaded streets, from Crate & Barrel and Sephora to Lululemon, Warby Parker and Sugarfina, plus plenty of outdoor seating for people-watching. It’s easy to catch an afternoon block, browse for an hour, grab dinner and head back for an evening screening.
Bringing the Kids?
Yes, please! Every year the festival includes a Family Films program, usually on Saturday morning, filled with family-friendly live-action shorts and animation chosen with younger viewers in mind. Animation fans will also love Return of the Ink & Paint Club, our animation showcase. It’s programmed for a general audience, so it’s best for older kids. Want a preview? Watch six animated shorts from past festivals at home first.
A few programs are made for grown-ups, like the late-night horror block (It Was a Dark & Stormy Night), the after-dark comedy block and intense drama programs such as I’ve Got a Bad Feeling About This. When in doubt, read the program descriptions on the schedule or ask our staff at the theater.
A Few More First-Timer Tips
- Arrive 15 to 20 minutes early to pick up your tickets, find your theater and get settled.
- Stay for the Q&A. Some of the best moments of the festival happen after the credits roll, when the filmmakers take the stage.
- Vote for your favorites. Your votes help decide the Audience Choice awards.
- Mix it up. Pair a block you know you’ll love with one you’d never normally pick. Finding a surprise favorite is half the fun.
- Bring a light jacket. October evenings in San Jose cool off after dark, and theaters can run chilly.
See You in October
Got more questions? Our festival FAQ covers dates, tickets, submissions and more, and our Awards page is a great way to get a feel for the kinds of films we show. We’ll see you at the movies.
