And just like that, it’s a wrap! Thank you for celebrating 18 years with us. From October 22–25, 2026, the San Jose International Short Film Festival packed Cinemark’s CineArts Theatre at Santana Row with more than 160 short films from 28 countries, programmed into nearly 30 screening blocks of drama, comedy, documentary, animation, sci-fi, family films and world cinema.
Four days of films from all over the world, a room full of people laughing, gasping and talking about what they just saw, and filmmakers sticking around to answer questions. It’s the best long weekend of the year.
The Highlights
Opening Night kicked things off with a full house and a red carpet. The Emerging Filmmakers program gave us a look at the next generation of storytellers, and the Meet the Filmmakers session was a great chance to hear how these films actually get made. Evenings in the Filmmaker & VIP Lounge kept the conversations going long after the screenings ended.
On the Red Carpet
The red carpet was buzzing all weekend. Host @itsnobodysgirl caught up with filmmakers from England, Austria, India and beyond, and it was a blast seeing so many of the people behind the films in person. Here are a few of our favorite moments.
Red carpet photos by @katrinalearns, hosted by @itsnobodysgirl with @sjisff.
The 2026 Award Winners
Our jury had a tough job this year. Here’s who took home the awards:
- Best of the Fest (Oscar Qualifying): Getar Hero, Teddy Stern
- Best Drama: I Will Be Alright, Cyrus Neshvad
- Best Animation: Saba, Liron Topaz
- Best World Cinema: Paper Pilots, Fiorella Vescovi
- Best Documentary: Body of Work, Cassidy Rast & Odin Wadleigh
- Best Family: Last Minute, Michael Cusumano
- Best Comedy: The Method, Luke Howe
- Best Sci-Fi: The Catcher, Luka Galle
- Best Student Film: How I Learned to Die, Manya Glassman
- Emerging Filmmakers Award: Aftertouch, Levi Verspeek
A couple of fun notes: Best Drama winner Cyrus Neshvad is no stranger to the awards spotlight. His short The Red Suitcase was nominated for an Academy Award in 2023. And our Best of the Fest winner, Getar Hero, has qualified for the 99th Academy Awards. Read more about the film, and check out the SJSFF winners who have gone on to the Oscars.
Thank You!
A huge thank you to every filmmaker, audience member, volunteer, juror and sponsor who made this year possible. Festivals like this only happen because of all of you, and I can’t wait to do it again. See all of the 2026 winners and the full lineup, or take a trip back in time on our Awards page.
Got a short film of your own? Submissions for 2027 open December 1, 2026. Find out how to take part. See you next October!
