Streaming Resources
The library has access to thousands of streaming Hollywood and independent feature films, documentaries, and TV series through a variety of online platforms which can be accessed on and off campus.
For a complete list of video streaming platforms the library licenses, see the library’s database page and filter by “film and video”. To request streaming movies for a class, see below.
If you are looking for a streaming alternative to a DVD for a course, please direct inquiries to Film and Humanities Librarian, Nick Dease (nick.dease@richmond.edu). If a film does not appear to be available through one of our streaming platforms, we may be able to acquire access.
Swank Digital Campus provides access to new and classic Hollywood films, documentaries, and TV series from major studios. Support and technical requirements for using Swank can be found here.
Docuseek2 provides documentaries covering a range of social, environmental, and political issues, from distributors including Icarus Films, Bullfrog Films, and the National Film Board of Canada.
Digitalia offers a collection of classic and contemporary films and documentaries from Latin America, Europe, and the US.
Academic Video Online (Alexander Street Press) is a multidisciplinary collection of documentaries, news programs, performances, and films from Hollywood and independent distributors including Sony Pictures Classics and Milestone Films.
Feature Films for Education is a great selection of Hollywood films, animation, and documentaries, including acclaimed films like Malala, Hidden Figures, 12 Years a Slave, Life of Pi, The Shape of Water and more.
Films On Demand provides access to educational videos from a variety of producers including A&E, PBS, the BBC, National Geographic, HBO Documentary Films, Bill Moyers, Films for the Humanities & Sciences, and more.
Projectr EDU is a collection of independent, foreign, and documentary films distributed by Grasshopper Films.
EAI contains a comprehensive video art collection from the mid-1960s to the present. EAI is a nonprofit arts organization that fosters the creation, exhibition, distribution, and preservation of video art and digital art projects.
Request Streaming Movies for a Course
- Faculty may request streaming movies through the course reserves form, or by contacting Nick Dease, Film and Humanities Librarian.
- If we do not currently have access to a film through one of our streaming platforms, we will try to locate a distributor or copyright holder to obtain a digital license to stream the film legally. Please note, this may not be possible for all titles.
- Ideally requests should be made at least 2 weeks prior to your screening date or assignment date. Please note, it takes time to locate and contact distributors, and for the content to be uploaded to a server. If the film is available, you will receive notification.
- Copyright law does not permit us to digitize an entire film without permission from the rights holder, but digitizing reasonable and limited portions is permissible under certain circumstances including the purposes of teaching or instruction. The Technology Learning Center (TLC) can assist with digitizing and creating video clips for courses.