By Kate Skinner
In this time of ultimate movie and TV series bingeing, have you watched all the good movies on Netflix? Not a fan of those Marvel movies or those hit-or-miss American comedies?
Let me introduce you to ‘Kanopy’ and ‘Beamafilm’. Residents who have library cards with Maribyrnong and Wyndham libraries have free access to ‘Kanopy’. Hobsons Bay library members have free access to ‘Beamafilm’. Both are free streaming services home to independent films, resonating world movies and award winning documentaries.
‘Kanopy’ is described as streaming films that are inspirational, enriching and do much more than entertain. Here you’ll find hundreds of independent, arthouse and indie movies not found on any of your paid streaming services. Its ‘world cinema’ category has hundreds of films from a huge range of countries. There is also a whole site dedicated to ‘Kanopy Kids’. Maribyrnong and Wyndham residents have 10 credits to use per month, which equates to 10 movies monthly.
Hobsons Bay library card holders have free access to ‘Beamafilm’ which has many independent feature films available to stream, but also available is an extensive range of thought-provoking documentaries. The site boasts it supports local voices in the Australian and New Zealand sphere, helping to take a step back from mainstream international content. I have been bingeing inspiring LGBTQIA+ documentaries on ‘Beamafilm’ during my lockdown 2.0.
Visit your local library website to access the relevant streaming service for free. All you need is your library card number and you are good to go!
maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/library/Resources/eLibrary-portal/Kanopy
wyndham.vic.gov.au/libraries/elibrary/eBooks_Audio%20and%20Video
