Five San Jose International Short Film Festival award winners that went on to win or be nominated for an Academy Award, from Skin to I’m Not a Robot.
The San Jose International Short Film Festival (SJSFF, also known as SJISFF) 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 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.
Five San Jose International Short Film Festival award winners that went on to win or be nominated for an Academy Award, from Skin to I’m Not a Robot.
More than 160 short films from 28 countries, four days at CineArts at Santana Row, and ten jury award winners led by Best of the Fest Getar Hero: a look back at SJSFF 2026.
Teddy Stern’s Getar Hero, a cowboy story set in Mumbai, won Best of the Fest at the 18th annual San Jose International Short Film Festival and is Oscar qualified.
Acclaimed short film Romchyk, about a Ukrainian boy who returns to ballroom dancing after being badly burned in a Russian missile strike, screened at the San Jose International Short Film Festival as part of its award-winning festival run.
Six comedy shorts from recent festivals, including two Best Comedy winners, all streaming in full for free.
Heading to your first San Jose International Short Film Festival? Here’s how passes work, where to park, eat and stay at Santana Row, and the best programs for kids.