What is KANOPY? (Streaming Classic Films and more, FREE)

 

LATEST UPDATE (June 2019):

SAD NEWS! NYPL HAS DISCONTINUED KANOPY! 

“As of July 1, 2019, The New York Public Library will no longer offer cardholders free access to video streaming platform Kanopy.

The Library made this decision after a careful and thorough examination of its streaming offerings and priorities. We believe the cost of Kanopy makes it unsustainable for the Library, and that our resources are better utilized purchasing more in-demand collections such as books and e-books.

We apologize for any inconvenience. If you have any further questions, please reach out to gethelp@nypl.org.
– Caryl Matute, Interim Chief Branch Library Officer, The New York Public Library”

 

 

You can check if your local area library/institution offers it

 

KANOPY!

 

What is Kanopy? Kanopy is a video streaming service, not unlike Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. However unlike these paid services, Kanopy costs nothing! You read that right, it’s free.

You can stream and watch KANOPY’S entire online collection for FREE — All you need is a library card to unlock Kanopy’s online vaults of Classic and Modern Films.

 

LINK: NEW YORK TIMES ON KANOPY  – “A library card unlocks film vaults”

 

Kanopy is an award-winning video streaming service providing access to more than 30,000 independent and documentary films ─ titles of unique social and cultural value, including hundreds of films from The Criterion Collection (!), The Great Courses, Media Education Foundation, and thousands of independent filmmakers. You could think of it as “super curated Netflix”.

In case you are not familiar with The Criterion Collection, which is a library of the greatest current and classic films ever made, that part alone of Kanopy should make you drool. KANOPY has hundreds of films from the Criterion Collection’s classics of Cinema available for streaming. Want to watch the SEVEN SAMURAI in the comfort of your own home, on your computer or your HD TV? Kanopy has it available, as well as hundreds of other classic and current films from all over the world, plus many other things worth watching or listening to.

Netflix now charges about $11/month. Amazon Prime Video is about the same (ie, you need a Prime Account) So how much will Kanopy cost you per month to take advantage of all the wonderful films and other content available on Kanopy? How about ZERO – NADA – BUPKIS !! You just need to belong to a library, university or other institution that Kanopy is partnered with (for example, The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, The San Franciso Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library, and many other public libraries and universities in many American cities) You can check which public library systems are connected here and see if you can find your city’s public library or university or another institution listed: 

https://help.kanopystreaming.com/hc/en-us/articles/115004295473-Finding-your-library-on-Kanopy

Here is some info from NYPL and SFPL that will explain how KANOPY works and how to sign up.

https://sfpl.libanswers.com/faq/206281

https://gethelp.nypl.org/customer/portal/articles/2861070

So sign up for Kanopy, and if you don’t have a library card (whaaaa??!) you should sign up for that too, so you can get access to it and Kanopy’s collections.

Kanopy and my public library (NYPL)  allows one to have 10 plays/month, and I’ll assume this is the system in place for all Kanopy library accounts. Kanopy is an app and a website so not only can you can watch on your computer via Kanopy’s website but also via a streaming device (like ROKU) on your TV as well, which is the best way to watch a film naturally.

 

UPDATE: OCTOBER 2018

NEWS: KANOPY APP FINALLY AVAILABLE ON FIRE TV !

#Kanopy  #FireTV  #FireTVStick  #Streaming  #NYPL

FILM RECOMMENDATIONS:

I watched two fantastic films last week on Kanopy.  

I highly recommended both of these films!

 

LOVING VINCENT

and

 

KEDI

 

A few more recommendations….

BATTLE OF ALGIERS, EX MACHINA, SEVEN SAMURAI, MERU….

 

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