In a freebie double-bonanza Canadians now have access to a considerable chunk of the National Film Board’s (NFB) library via an online streaming site that makes use of an open source Flash-based video player.
The NFB is marking 70 years as a Canadian institution with an online “Screening Room” that provides free video streaming of more than 700 films. The new Web site at NFB.ca went live yesterday. Not only are the videos free, but so is the video player used to showcase them – one similar to YouTube’s player both in looks and in function.
“The digital revolution offers the NFB a new chance to deliver on its old promise,” says Tom Perlmutter, Canada’s film commissioner and chairperson of the NFB. “This is the virtual church basement where Canadians can get together to share their points of view.”
Canada’s public film producer is showcasing 650 documentaries, 167 animated films, 52 feature films (15 of them feature-length) and seven experimental films on the site. The films represent nearly a century of Canadian film production and represent many award-winning films, including the 2004 Oscar-winning short film Ryan.
From Bill Mason paddling his legendary red canoe through the backcountry of Ontario’s wilderness so he might paint more life-like moose, to the animated favourite Log Driver’s Waltz, and the obscure 1964 experimental film 21-87 that's widely credited as inspiring George Lucas to create “The Force” in his Star Wars blockbusters.
It’s a video tapestry that Perlmutter describes as “uniquely Canadian.”“I can’t think of a better gift to Canadians on our 70th anniversary,” he says. “The video quality is unparalleled.”Previously, Canadians interested in viewing NFB movies had to make a trip to a nearby city that hosted screening booths for the films. Many of the older titles were printed on 16 mm film.
Offering those films on the Web was a smart move, says Charlie Keil, director of cinema studies institute, at the University of Toronto. It will help get NFB movies to Canadians in far-flung locations, and foster an overall increase in audience and viewership.