Privacy Policy

Effective date: October 31, 2026

This Privacy Policy explains how the San Jose International Short Film Festival (“SJSFF,” “we,” “us”) collects, uses and shares information when you visit sjsff.com (the “Site”). The Site and the festival are operated by SJSFF.

Information We Collect

Information You Choose To Send Us

When you email us (for example, through the Send Mail buttons on our Contact and Sponsor pages), we receive your email address and anything you include in your message.
When you buy tickets or passes from us, we receive the information you provide to complete your order.

Information Collected Automatically

Like most websites, our hosting provider automatically records basic technical information when you visit, such as your IP address, browser type, device type, the pages you view, and the date and time of your visit.
If you use the search box on the Site, we receive the words you search for.

Cookies And Similar Technologies

We use the Google Ads tag (from Google LLC), which may set cookies or use similar technologies to measure how our advertising performs and to show you ads for SJSFF on other websites. See “Advertising” below for your choices.
The Site does not use cookies to identify you personally, and you do not need an account to use it.

Services Run By Other Companies

Some features of the Site are provided by other companies. When you use them, those companies may collect information under their own privacy policies:

Film submissions: Submissions are handled by FilmFreeway. Information you provide when submitting a film is collected by FilmFreeway and shared with us so we can review your submission.
Memberships: Festival Maker memberships are paid through PayPal. We do not receive or store your full card details.
Volunteer sign-ups: The volunteer sign-up form is a Google Form. The information you enter (such as your name, contact details and availability) is stored by Google and shared with us so we can schedule volunteers.
Videos: Film trailers and films on the Site play from YouTube (Google). YouTube may collect information and set cookies when you play a video.
Maps: Our Contact page includes an embedded Google Map, which may collect information when it loads.
Fonts and site features: The Site loads fonts from Google Fonts and a small WordPress script from WordPress.org, which means your browser connects to those services and shares your IP address with them.
Social media: If you follow links to our Instagram, Facebook, YouTube or X (Twitter) pages, those platforms’ privacy policies apply.

How We Use Information

We use the information we collect to:

respond to your questions and requests;
review film submissions and run the festival, including processing ticket and pass orders, scheduling volunteers and managing memberships;
operate, secure and improve the Site;
measure and improve our advertising.

How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information. We share information only:

with the service providers described above, so they can provide their services;
when required by law, or to protect the rights, safety and property of SJSFF, our audiences and others.

Advertising

We use Google Ads to show ads for the festival. Google may use cookies to show you SJSFF ads based on your visits to this Site. You can turn off personalized ads at adssettings.google.com, and learn how Google uses information from sites that use its services at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings.

Do Not Track

Some browsers offer a “Do Not Track” setting. The Site does not currently respond to Do Not Track signals.

How Long We Keep Information

We keep emails and the information from submissions, memberships and volunteer sign-ups for as long as we need them to run the festival and meet our legal obligations.

Children’s Privacy

The Site is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has sent us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Your Choices And Rights

You can ask us to see, correct or delete the personal information we hold about you by emailing contact@sjsff.com. We’ll respond within a reasonable time. Information held by FilmFreeway, PayPal, Google or other services is controlled by those companies, so please contact them directly about it.

Links To Other Websites

The Site links to other websites, such as news coverage, sponsors and filmmakers’ videos. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites.