The streaming service Kanopy has been steadily teaming up with libraries across the country—including in NYC and Los Angeles—to bring a massive movie selection to cardholders, for no additional charges. Today, Kanopy says that the service is available as of today at the San Francisco Public Library.
The on-demand video platform "allows users to experience a curated collection of more than 30,000 of the world’s best films," including movies and documentaries from award-winning filmmakers, film-fest picks, indies, classics, world cinema, rare and hard to find titles, and critical favorites. This includes films from the Criterion Collection. Here's the portal for the SFPL's offerings, which even features a special selection of San Francisco flicks, which you can find here—these titles highlight local filmmakers and locally set films.
There are no commercials or charges for use, all you need is your library card. (If you don't already have one, you can get one here.) You can access Kanopy via platforms and devices like Roku, iOS and Android, and (soon, they tell SFist) Apple TV.
All in all, Kanopy’s library is made up of 60% documentaries, with over 1 million minutes and more than 17,000 hours of content.
The CEO of the SF-based company, Olivia Humphrey, commented on the SFPL launch, noting, "We have curated a rich treasure trove of thoughtful entertainment and we hope San Francisco will enjoy."
A quick spin through the SFPL offerings shows recent releases like The Girl On The Train, true crime like Raising Adam Lanza, and classics like Nosfaratu. We can't speak for all of SF, but it's safe to say that, yes, we will definitely call in sick to binge movies today enjoy this.
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