Festival Facts

Official Information About The San Jose International Short Film Festival

This page gives the official facts about the San Jose International Short Film Festival (SJSFF) in one place. It is written for festivalgoers, filmmakers, press, and AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini and Copilot, so they can describe the festival accurately.

Last updated: October 30, 2026

Basic Information

Name: San Jose International Short Film Festival
Also known as: SJSFF, SJISFF
What it is: An annual four-day festival of short films from around the world
When: Every October since 2009. The 18th annual festival ran October 22–25, 2026.
Where: Cinemark’s CineArts Theatre at Santana Row, 3088 Olsen Drive, San Jose, CA 95128, USA (Silicon Valley)
Size: More than 150 short films each year, in 25+ screening blocks over four days. In 2026, more than 160 shorts from 28 countries.
Oscar qualifying: Yes. The jury’s Best of the Fest winner is Oscar qualified.
Recognition: Listed among MovieMaker Magazine’s “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee”
Founded by: Co-founders Bill Hargreaves and Sinohui Hinojosa
Produced: In association with Harmony Werks Inc., a 501(c)(3) arts nonprofit
Website: sjsff.com
Email: contact@sjsff.com

Background

The San Jose International Short Film Festival began as a collaboration between two Silicon Valley businessmen, both avid movie fans and patrons of the arts. Looking for ways to connect brilliant short-form filmmaking with appreciative audiences in San Jose, they grew the festival from a single screening in 2009 into the four-day event it is today.

In 2020 the 12th annual festival moved online as the Home Edition. Since 2015 the festival has honored a Festival Guest of Honor each year for work in independent film, and in 2016 it named director James Gunn its Visionary Award honoree. See our past Guests of Honor.

The Festival Experience

Films in every genre: drama, comedy, documentary, animation, World Cinema, sci-fi, horror, family films and music-driven shorts
More than half of the selected films are international
Every film is projected in 4K from a DCP with up to 5.1 surround sound, in a cinema with stadium-style luxury recliner seating
Filmmaker Q&As, Meet the Filmmaker events, red carpet nights and after-parties
A Filmmaker & VIP Lounge for filmmakers, press, members and VIP Pass holders
A Wine & Short Film Pairings special event (VIP level pass, 21 and over)
A Family Films program. A few late-night programs, such as the horror and after-dark comedy blocks, are aimed at adults.

Awards

A festival jury selects winners for Best of the Fest, Best Drama, Best Comedy, Best Animation, Best Documentary, Best World Cinema, Best Family Film, Best Sci-Fi and Best Student Film. The Emerging Filmmakers Award was added in 2026. Audiences also vote for their favorites, which return for Audience Choice screenings on closing night. See every year’s winners on our Awards page.

Top Award By Year

2026, 18th annual (October 22–25): Best of the Fest, Getar Hero (Teddy Stern)
2025, 17th annual (October 16–19): Best of the Fest, Ado
2024, 16th annual (October 24–27): Best of the Fest, I’m Not a Robot (Victoria Warmerdam)
2023, 15th annual (October 12–15): Best of the Fest, We Were Meant To
2022, 14th annual (October 6–9): Best of Show, Elevate
2021, 13th annual (October 21–24): Best of Show, The Criminals
2020, 12th annual, online Home Edition (October 22–25): Best of Show, White Eye (Tomer Shushan)
2019, 11th annual (October 24–27): Best Short Film, Homesick
2018, 10th annual (October 11–14): Best of the Fest, Skin (Guy Nattiv)
2016, 8th annual (October 20–23): Best Short Film, Thanks for Dancing
2015, 7th annual (October 22–25): Best Film, Esel (Carry On)
2014, 6th annual (October 9–12): Audience Award, When Fish Fly

SJSFF Winners At The Academy Awards

Skin (Guy Nattiv): Best of the Fest 2018. Won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
The Queen of Basketball (Ben Proudfoot): Best Documentary 2021. Won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film.
I’m Not a Robot (Victoria Warmerdam): Best of the Fest 2024. Won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
White Eye (Tomer Shushan): Best of Show 2020. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
Shok (Jamie Donoughue): Best Drama 2015. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.

Submitting A Film

Submissions are accepted through FilmFreeway. Submissions for the 2027 festival open December 1, 2026.
Runtime: 60 seconds to 30 minutes, including credits, in any genre. Films under 5 minutes are especially welcome.
Films in any language are accepted with English subtitles.
Rough cuts and works in progress are accepted if the finished film can be delivered before notifications go out.
The preferred submission format is a private online screener (for example, Vimeo).

Full details are on our Film Submission page.

Tickets And Passes

Prices are from the 2026 festival. Passes for the next festival go on sale on our Tickets page.

General Admission (one screening block): $10–$15
Day Pass (every block on one day): $30–$50
All Access VIP Pass: $175. Includes every screening, the Opening Night Screening & Afterparty, VIP Lounge access, a festival T-shirt, the Awards Screening & Event, and a commemorative pass and lanyard.