Congratulations to this year’s winners
4 Days / Over 150 Films / Filmmaker Q&A's / After-Parties And More...
2026 Award Winners Announced
2026 Award Winners
Announced Now
San Jose International Short Film Festival
World Class Short Films
The San Jose International Short Film Festival (SJSFF) is a four-day celebration of world-class short films, held every October at Cinemark’s CineArts Theatre at Santana Row in San Jose, California. Listed as one of the “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” by MovieMaker Magazine, it brings more than 150 shorts from around the globe to Silicon Valley and Bay Area audiences.
The 18th Annual SJSFF
The 18th Annual San Jose International Short Film Festival brought more than 160 imagination-stretching short films from 28 countries to San Jose over four days, October 22–25, 2026. The films were programmed into nearly 30 screening blocks plus special events, a testament to the creative range of the featured films. They exemplify excellence in every genre from thought-provoking documentaries and dramatic shorts, to world cinema, comedy shorts, entertaining science fiction/horror selections, beautifully-crafted animation, to family-friendly shorts and more.
Festival Guest Of Honor
In 2015 the SJSFF was thrilled to launch our Festival Guest of Honor event to celebrate individuals for their work in independent film. The tradition continues each year with a new Guest of Honor.
See Past GuestsOur Venues
Cinemark’s CineArts Theatre in Santana Row
A state-of-the-art cinema featuring surround sound, stadium-style luxury recliner seating plus an incredible projection system.
Santana Row
With well over 12 million visitors each year, Santana Row is Silicon Valley's premier shopping, dining, living and working destination. As a location for a film festival it is everything our audiences are looking for in one place, from incredible dining options to unique shopping options and more.
See Our Events Map2026 Awards
Special Event
Wine & Short Film Pairings
VIP Level Pass Required *Must be 21 or over to participate.
Filmmaker & VIP Lounge
Filmmakers, Press, Members and VIP Pass holders, please join us during the festival at our VIP Lounge. Enjoy soft drinks, coffee and tea – plus check out festival films from the past few years playing in our private screening room.
Past Festivals
Every Year’s Winners, In One Place
Explore the award winners from every San Jose International Short Film Festival since 2014 on our new Awards page. Each year has its own page with the jury’s winners, from Best of the Fest to Best Student Film, plus the full lineup of films that screened: from our 10th anniversary in 2018 and the online Home Edition in 2020 to this year’s 18th annual festival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the San Jose International Short Film Festival.
When is the San Jose International Short Film Festival?
The festival takes place every October in San Jose, California. The 18th annual festival ran October 22–25, 2026, and dates for the 2027 festival will be posted here as soon as they are announced.
Where is the festival held?
Screenings take place at Cinemark’s CineArts Theatre at Santana Row, 3088 Olsen Drive, San Jose, CA 95128, a state-of-the-art cinema with stadium-style luxury recliner seating. Santana Row’s restaurants, shops and cafés are steps away.
How much are tickets and passes?
For the 2026 festival, General Admission tickets for a single screening block were $10–$15, Day Passes covering every block on one day were $30–$50, and the All Access VIP Pass was $175. The VIP Pass includes every screening, the Opening Night Screening & Afterparty, VIP Lounge access, a festival T-shirt and the Awards Screening & Event. Passes for next year’s festival go on sale on our Tickets page.
How many films does the festival show?
More than 150 short films from around the world screen over four days, programmed into nearly 30 blocks of drama, comedy, documentary, animation, sci-fi, family films and World Cinema. In 2026, more than 160 shorts from 28 countries were shown.
Is the San Jose International Short Film Festival Oscar qualifying?
Yes. The jury’s Best of the Fest winner is Oscar qualified. The 2024 Best of the Fest winner, I’m Not a Robot, went on to win the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film.
What awards does the festival give?
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, and 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.
How do I submit my short film?
Submissions are accepted through FilmFreeway, and submissions for 2027 open December 1, 2026. The festival accepts short films in every genre with runtimes from 60 seconds up to 30 minutes, and international films are welcome in their native language with English subtitles. Learn more on our Film Submission page.
Can I watch past winners online?
Yes. Many of our award winners and festival favorites can be streamed right on this site. Visit the Awards page, choose a year, then flip a winner’s card for its Watch button or click the red play buttons in that year’s festival lineup. Our News page also rounds up favorite animated, sci-fi, comedy, documentary and World Cinema shorts you can stream.
Is the festival family friendly?
Yes. Every festival includes a Family Films program of family-friendly shorts and animation. A few programs, such as the late-night horror and after-dark comedy blocks, are aimed at adult audiences, so check the program descriptions on the schedule before you go. Our First-Timer’s Guide has more tips for families.
More questions? See our full FAQ.
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