Each October, more than 150 shorts from around the world screen over four days at CineArts at Santana Row, with filmmaker Q&As, red carpet nights and Audience Choice screenings. Outlets from Metro Silicon Valley to BroadwayWorld have covered our lineups, honorees and milestones, from James Gunn’s Visionary Award to the 2020 online Home Edition. Here are some of our favorite stories. For key dates, awards and contacts, see our Festival Facts.
Press & Media
Since 2009, the San Jose International Short Film Festival has brought the world’s best short films to Silicon Valley, and the press has followed.
The Festival At A Glance
Short films, big screen, every October since 2009
18annual festivals in San Jose
150+short films from around the world each year
25+screening blocks over four days at CineArts at Santana Row
10jury award categories, plus Audience Choice
Recent Coverage
The 17th annual festival brought 150 shorts in genres from comedy to horror and sci-fi, opening with a red carpet at CineArts on Santana Row.
Metro Silicon Valley, October 8, 2025More than 140 short films from around the world, plus filmmaker Q&As and parties, came to CineArts in Santana Row for the 16th festival.
The San Jose Blog, September 30, 2024The 15th annual festival’s screening blocks ran from documentary to horror, with visiting filmmakers on hand for Q&As.
Metro Silicon Valley, October 10, 2023For its 12th year, the festival moved online with more than 100 shorts, filmmaker talks and performances by international musicians.
New Jersey Stage, October 8, 2020The 10th annual festival screened about 150 films at CineArts on Santana Row, including shorts that take on difficult subjects.
Metro Silicon Valley, October 10, 2018Featured Stories
Meet the Founders
Co-founders Bill Hargreaves and Sinohui Hinojosa tell how one coffee meeting grew into San Jose’s own short film festival.
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San Jose International Short Film Festival to Honor Filmmaker James Gunn
The festival named the Guardians of the Galaxy director its Visionary Award honoree and asked him to choose the winner of a new grant for independent filmmakers.
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Two Film Festivals Roll Out in Silicon Valley This Week
Metro’s 2024 preview spotlighted sci-fi, comedy and drama from the lineup, including Molly Ringwald in Catherine & Michael and I’m not a robot, which went on to win Best of the Fest.
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