THE NFB IN LIBRARIES

Offer your patrons free screenings of NFB films.

 

Films are organized by theme on the right. New titles will be added throughout the year.

Documentaries and animated films are no longer content to simply tell stories or elicit emotions. They’re an opportunity to share important information and bring people together.  NFB IN LIBRARIES provides Canadian public libraries with the opportunity to screen NFB films free of charge at their events. This program aims to use cinema as a lever of engagement to spark social and cultural discussion among audiences. The NFB is committed to supporting your efforts to make your screenings accessible to diverse audiences. Upon request, we can provide closed captioning for selected films. We also have hundreds of films offering described video.

Host a screening in 3 easy steps

1. Choose your film: use the thematic categories to select a film, or reach out to the NFB for specific requests.

2. Promote your screening: The NFB offers resources to promote your screenings, including film excerpts, trailers, posters and photos. We can also provide opportunities to work with filmmakers and enrich your events with debates and discussions. Post the screening on social media, put posters up in the library, get the word out!

3. Host your screening: The NFB will deliver you the film file and any additional resources prior to your screening date. Once the day arrives, enjoy the feeling of community!

Newsletter

Suscribe to our newsletter, you’ll be the informed about newly available titles, selections for children, teenagers and adults. You will also receive programming suggestions grouped by theme, along with additional information about the films and filmmakers.

NEWSLETTER

How to select an impactful film

It’s essential to choose the right film to maximize audience engagement. Here are four objectives to keep in mind when selecting films.

1. Change minds: Does the film have the power to change public attitudes?

2. Change behaviours: Can it encourage the audience to take tangible action?

3. Build communities: Does the film create a space to unify people around a theme?

4. Modify structures: Can it influence laws or policies?

Libraries are ideal spaces for encouraging social engagement and discussing societal issues.

References on documentaries with impact

The Impact Field Guide & Toolkit: From Art to Impact (pdf). Doc Society: London, New York, Amsterdam (updated by Sahar Driver in San Francisco), 2019, 381 pp.

Charting A Course for Impact Producing in Canada: Trends, Best Practices and Future Directions (pdf). Prepared for the Documentary Association of Canada, produced by Maria De Rosa and Marilyn Burgess: Toronto, 2017, 36 pp.

Making Documentaries with Impact: A Toolkit (pdf). Prepared for the Documentary Association of Canada, produced by Maria De Rosa and Marilyn Burgess: Toronto, 2017, 18 pp.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I request a screening to the NFB?
When you chose your film(s), send your selection(s) by e-mail to libraries@nfb.ca and include the date and time of the screening. Specify whether you want subtitles. We will send you an electronic file (.mp4) of the film for screenings at your library (a projection-quality DVD can be requested). Upon reception of the film, download the file before the link expires and test the film with your screening equipment. After the screening, we will ask you the number of people who attended your event.
Does the NFB provide promotional material?
For most of our recent titles we can provide an Electronic Press Kit, which includes graphics for the film as well as additional information that could be helpful in your promotion or in a post-screening discussion, such as the trailer, synopsis, director biography, credits, etc. *Please remember to acknowledge the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) in your promotion. Events Page: We will promote your screening on our Events page, which you can use to promote your screening directly, or provide a link to it from your website or social media pages. Social Media: If you create a Facebook event page for your screening, simply include the NFB as a co-host; this will allow us to share your event among our social media followers too. You can populate your event page with the graphics, clips, and descriptions found in the Electronic Press Kit.
Is there a cost?
There is no cost to host a virtual or in-person screening with THE NFB IN LIBRARIES. Since the films in our collection are bound by public performance copyright restrictions, admission to screenings must be free of charge, and DVDs/Blu-rays must be returned to us by regular mail after your screening or destroyed if they cannot be returned. Downloaded film files must be deleted. The NFB is committed to complying with these copyright restrictions and thereby respecting the work of the artists, technicians, and professionals involved in these productions.
Can I purchase films for my library?
If you would like to keep a film for your collection, you may purchase it by contacting our customer service department at info@nfb.ca.

Contact us

Florence François, Programming Agent
514-914-9253
f.francois@nfb.ca
libraries@nfb.ca
The NFB is committed to respecting your privacy

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