Research Guides
Cinema Studies: Streaming Films
This guide highlights recommended resources for research in Cinema Studies.
Use UW Libraries Advanced Search when looking for films and follow this example -- change "Show Only" option to UW Libraries and "Material Type" to Audio & Video. Type in search terms -- this can be the title of a film, director, keywords or genre (type of film such as horror films). Search results will include DVD, VHS and streaming. Those with the location "Suzzallo and Allen Libraries Media Storage" can be requested at the main circulation (check-out) desk on the first floor of Suzzallo Library. For more information on locating films at the UW Libraries see the Video & Streaming Video guide.
Streaming Videos
This is just a selection of streaming video collections (most are documentaries) available through the UW Libraries and on the web. For a more complete list see Streaming Media Collections A-Z.
- National Film Board of Canada | L’Office National du Film du Canada This link opens in a new window
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- New World Cinema: Independent Features and Shorts, 1990-Present This link opens in a new window
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- AVON - Academic Video Online This link opens in a new window
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Sony Pictures Classics with AVON - Docuseek2 Complete Collection: Second Edition This link opens in a new window
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Filmographies
The following sources are similiar to IMDB. They provide basic information about a film including a plot summary, list of characters, etc. Some also include more detailed information including citations to film reviews. These are just a sampling of filmographies available in the UW Libraries.
Browsing for a Film
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The media collection on the first floor of Suzzallo Library has hundreds of popular films (and tv series) on DVD that you can check-out. This is just a subset of the thousands of films available at the UW Libraries on DVD, VHS and streaming. The browsing collection is divided into tv series, feature films, foreign language films and documentaries. Find a film you like and take the case to any check-out desk so that it can be unlocked. |
Looking for a great film?
The American Film Institute has come up with a list of the 100 greatest American films of all time. You'll find most of them available on DVD. A few are available streaming including these:
- 2. The Godfather (1972)
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- 4. Raging Bull (1980)
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- 18. The General (1927)
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- 29. Double Indemnity (1944)
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Film Genres to Use When Searching
Libraries use official terminology created by the Library of Congress (LC) to categorize films by genre. You may want to use genre terminology when you are looking for a list of a specific kind of film. Here are some genre examples that can be helpful when looking for types of films, films from a specific country, or films in a specific language. The general genre heading is followed by specific country examples; often times American and English language films will not include a country or language designation. Keep in mind that genre terminology use may be inconsistent. These are just a sampling of various genres that you can use.
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motion pictures (followed by language)
foreign language films (followed by language)
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feature films (followed by country)
foreign films (followed by country)
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examples other types of genres:
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