Poppy Jasper International Film Festival

What Poppy Jasper International Film Festival does

Poppy Jasper International Film Festival (PJIFF) is a 501c3 nonprofit film festival operated by Poppy Jasper Inc., founded in 2006 by Bill Leaman and headquartered in Morgan Hill, California. The organization produces an annual eight-day international film festival spanning five California cities (Morgan Hill, San Martin, Gilroy, Hollister, and San Juan Bautista) using 24 partner venues, with the 2026 edition scheduled for April 8-15. The 2025 festival anticipates approximately 5,000 attendees and the 2026 program plans to screen roughly 260 short and feature films with 250+ filmmakers from over 14 countries.

The festival operates without any paid staff, relying entirely on a volunteer network and a Board of Directors led by Festival Director Mattie Scariot (appointed 2018) and President Mary Ellison. Its product portfolio extends beyond the core festival event to include the Young Filmmakers Workshop (ages 4-14), Millennials Music Video Program, 40 & Up and 70 & Up Filmmaking Workshops, and a Veterans Documentary Program. Programming features dedicated cultural celebration days (China Day, Mexico y Tu Day, LGBTQ+ Day, Women's Day), speaker panels with industry professionals, and a year-round "Art In Motion" podcast. Award programs include juried competitions, Audience Awards, and the Director's Circle Award across dozens of categories.

PJIFF's revenue model is a diversified mix of tiered corporate sponsorships ($500 to $20,000), ticket and festival pass sales via Eventive.org, individual donations processed through PayPal, and grants from regional foundations (Gilroy Foundation, Morgan Hill Community Foundation, The Edward Boss Prado Foundation) and Rotary clubs. The festival uses FilmFreeway and Withoutabox for filmmaker submissions and has no proprietary technology platform. Marketing operates through social media (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Vimeo), email newsletters, regional press coverage, and earned media via PR partner The Mesulam Group.

Name

Poppy Jasper International Film Festival

Legal name

Poppy Jasper Inc.

Website

https://pjiff.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PJIFF is a 501c3 nonprofit film festival operating an annual eight-day event across five California cities, screening ~260 films from 14+ countries for ~5,000 attendees. It is run entirely by volunteers and funds itself through sponsorships, ticket sales, donations, and regional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Festival and Entertainment Events

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Other Performing Arts Companies (711190)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPADAKAD

Film Festivals & Festival Organizers

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Film & Video Production/Distribution/Exhibition (Cinemas, Film Festivals, Screenings)

SECONDARYMPAGAEAG

Arts & Culture Community Festivals (Multidisciplinary Arts Weeks)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Live Entertainment & Events (Concerts, Theater, Festivals)/Cultural Festivals & Community Events

SECONDARYEDAMALAI

Performing Arts Camps (Theater, Musical Theater, Dance)

Education/Supplemental & Enrichment Programs (Arts, STEM, Language)/Summer & Holiday Enrichment Camps (Multi-Activity, Academic)

Keywords

• Independent film festival
• Filmmaker education programs
• Film submission platform
• Community film screening
• Nonprofit film festival

Headquarters

HQ city

Morgan Hill, California

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales and Festival Passes: Revenue from selling individual event tickets and festival passes through Eventive.org platform and the festival's box office.
2. Corporate Sponsorships: Tiered sponsorship packages (Diamond $20,000, Platinum $10,000, Gold $5,000, Silver $2,500, Community Champion $1,000) providing brand exposure, VIP passes, and event access in exchange for financial support.
3. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting the nonprofit's mission. Poppy Jasper Inc. is a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization.
4. Grants: Funding from grantors including Gilroy Foundation, Morgan Hill Community Foundation, The Edward Boss Prado Foundation, and Morgan Hill and Gilroy Rotary supporting educational programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Poppy Jasper International Film Festival is an annual multi-day film festival showcasing approximately 260 independent short and feature films from 250+ filmmakers across 14+ countries. Held across 24+ venues in five California cities over eight days, the festival features juried filmmaker competitions, audience-voted awards, industry speaker panels, and educational workshops serving aspiring filmmakers from ages 4 through seniors.

Product overview

The Poppy Jasper International Film Festival is an annual nonprofit film festival that operates as a single core product—the festival event itself—supported by multiple educational programs and award initiatives. The festival spans eight days and five California cities, featuring filmmaker competitions with juried and audience-voted awards across dozens of categories. Supporting programs include the Young Filmmakers Workshop for ages 4-14, Millennials Music Video Program, 40 & Up and 70 & Up Filmmaking Workshops, and a Veterans Documentary Program. The organization also hosts Speaker Panels covering industry topics. The festival uses Eventive for ticketing and FilmFreeway for film submissions, while PayPal handles donations. No commercial software product or API is offered.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Poppy Jasper International Film Festival Annual multi-day film festival showcasing approximately 260 independent short and feature films from 250+ filmmakers across 14+ countries, featuring juried competitions, audience awards, panel discussions, and filmmaker networking events across 24+ venues in five California cities.
• Young Filmmakers Workshop

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Mesulam GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunications and public relations firm handling festival media relations, press releases, and media contact for the festival. Contacts: Shari Mesulam and Johanna Calderon-Dakin serve as PR representatives.
• Gavilan CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community college hosting festival opening ceremonies, youth filmmaker showcase, and college film blocks. Located in Gilroy, California.
• CMAP TVcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal media partner and venue host for Southern California filmmaker showcases, workshops, and industry events. Vice President Mattie Scariot serves on CMAP TV board.
• Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and San Benito County Free LibrariesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partners supporting youth filmmaking programs and workshops, particularly the Young Filmmakers Workshop claymation program.
• Gilroy Arts AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts organization where Mattie Scariot served as founding board member, supporting arts and culture in the community.
• Gilroy Downtown Business AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness association supporting local commerce, Mattie Scariot serves on the board of directors.
• Brewery Twenty Five, Kelly Brewing Co., Settle Down Beer, Promised Land Brewing Co., Mad Pursuit Brewing Co.minorOthersFive local breweries representing each hosting city collaborated to craft special beers for the 2023 festival.
• Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Women's Day panel discussion featuring Jennifer McCabe, director and chief curator at SMoCA, as part of women in film programming.
• Venues (CURA Contemporary, Granada Theater, Morgan Hill Community Playhouse, The District Theater, The Barn at Mission Farm)coreMultiple venue partners across five cities hosting film screenings, panels, and special events throughout the festival.
• FilmFreewaycoreTechnology or IntegrationOnline film submission platform used by filmmakers to submit entries to the festival, enabling international accessibility.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Newport Beach Film Festival: Large-scale Southern California film festival with international programming and high-profile filmmaker tributes. Comparable as a multi-venue California indie festival but operates with substantially larger budget, sponsor base, and industry recognition.
• Palm Springs International Film Festival: Major Southern California festival held annually with strong international film programming and celebrity-driven awards season positioning. Comparable in independent/international film curation but operates at a substantially larger scale and prestige tier.
• Santa Barbara International Film Festival: Established California film festival with major industry recognition, Oscar-season programming, and celebrity tributes. Comparable as a California-based multi-venue independent film festival but operates at materially larger scale and budget.
• San Francisco International Film Festival: One of the longest-running film festivals in the Americas, presenting independent and international cinema in the San Francisco Bay Area. Comparable in scope (international indie programming, multi-venue screenings) but operates at significantly larger scale and longevity.

Direct peers

• Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival: San Jose-based independent film and creativity festival with strong Silicon Valley/South Bay ties, showcasing indie features and shorts with filmmaker networking. Highly comparable given geographic proximity and similar indie filmmaker focus.
• Slamdance Film Festival: Independent film festival focused on emerging filmmakers and undiscovered talent, with strong DIY/community ethos. Comparable as an indie-focused festival championing emerging voices with a mission-driven, sponsor-supported operating model.
• Napa Valley Film Festival: California-based multi-day film festival showcasing independent films across multiple venues in wine country. Directly comparable as a regional multi-venue independent film festival relying on sponsorships, tickets, and community partnerships.
• Mill Valley Film Festival: Long-running Northern California film festival operated by the California Film Institute, showcasing independent and international films across multiple venues. Directly comparable as a regional multi-venue indie film festival with strong community programming.
• Sacramento Film Festival: Regional Northern California film festival showcasing independent films with community programming emphasis. Comparable as a smaller, community-rooted indie film festival serving a specific California region with similar volunteer/sponsorship revenue model.

Regional players

• Carmel International Film Festival: California-based regional film festival showcasing independent films in a smaller-market geography. Comparable as a regional indie film festival with sponsorship-supported operations, though operating in a different California geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/PoppyJasperIFF
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@poppyjasperinternationalfi34
• Facebookfacebook.com/PoppyJasperInternationalFilmFestival
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/poppyjasperinternationalfilmfestival
• Instagraminstagram.com/poppyjasperiff

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Poppy Jasper International Film Festival