Many Kanopy films are leased to the Libraries for an average of $150 per film for 12 months. You may encounter three kinds of film when browsing the Kanopy database: subscribed films renewed annually, instant access films, and videos "you can request from your library" or purchase on demand. 

Subscribed Films

The Libraries have recently subscribed to the Kanopy Base collection, which offers almost 10,000 theatrical and documentary films from studios and networks such as

• A&E
• California Newsreel
• Kino Lorber
• Les Blank Films
• PBS
• Shout Factory
• The History Channel

Instant Access

Films from certain distributors are available for instant viewing; the Libraries will pay a fee for each film, but you will not need to request these individually. Studios and distributors offering instant access include:

• The Criterion Collection
• New Day Films
• Women Make Movies
• Selected The Great Courses
• Selected HBO Films
• Revolution Studios
• MHz
• Umbrella Entertainment

Purchase on Demand

If we do not offer immediate access to a film, a request form will pop up in the Kanopy platform. If this happens, you have options.

• Fill out the Kanopy request form with your name, email, and course information and we will be in touch.
• Request that the libraries purchase the film through course reserves (see link below). Purchasing a Kanopy film grants access to the film for 12 months after the purchase, therefore requests for access to the film must be made every year.
• Explore any of our other streaming options, such as Academic Video Online or BBC Shakespeare Plays. Browse a fuller list of streaming video databases through the link below, or use OneSearch to access known titles through a title search in the library catalog.