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Free iPhone app streams short films, documentaries, cartoons, and more
NFB Films streams over 1,000 shorts and feature-length films to your iPhone.
Like indie films? Documentaries? Animation? Ho, boy, have I got an app for you: NFB Films lets you watch over a thousand movies on your iPhone. For free.
The "NFB" stands for National Film Board, a kind of Canadian PBS. The app taps the NFB's mammoth library of documentaries, animated films, trailers (for upcoming NFB releases), and more.
All the movies are streamed to your iPhone, but there's also an ingenious "watch later" option that downloads a selected movie for later viewing. However, these downloads expire after 24 hours, not unlike App Store movie rentals, but that hardly seems unfair.
NFB Films includes a Channels section where you can browse various categories, including Documentaries, Kids Cartoons, History & War, and Environment. There's a search option, natch, and you can add movies to a favorites (sorry, "favourites") list for easier access.
If you come across a film you want to share with friends, the app lets you send an e-mail that includes a link to the Web version.
A while back I went to see 10 Oscar-nominated short films--five animated, five live-action. They were all tremendously entertaining. Since then I've been a lot more open-minded to non-mainstream movie fare like this. So for me, NFB Films is pure iPhone gold. I reckon you'll love it, too.
Rick Broida, a technology writer for nearly 20 years, is the author of more than a dozen books. In addition to writing CNET's The Cheapskate blog, he oversees BNET's Business Hacks. Rick is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. Disclosure. Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers. Follow Rick on Twitter at cheapskateblog.
American should consider the success of different systems beyond their borders. You should also consider emulating one of the best run government agencies within your own borders. The best armed forces in the world fully funded by the government. Imagine private industry running the US Armed forces? Geez, talk about spending gone wild to create profitable wars all over the globe.
All this conjecture from an iPhone App!!
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by Networx
October 23, 2009 4:37 AM PDT
- Saying the NFB is sort of like Canada's PBS is insulting. There is nothing like the NFB in the U.S. The National Film Board of Canada is a wholly government agency that has had freedom to create short films, documentaries and feature films including multiple Academy Award winners. It has helped chronicle the Canadian experience in a unique way and is a National Treasure. Film critic Leonard Malton even did an exclusive special in the 90's listed and showing his ten favourite NFB films. There is no agency or company like the NFB on the planet and their new iPhone app is pleasant proof that occasionally the government can put our tax dollars to good use. Making their catalogue available to anyone with an iPhone or iPod touch is just another sign of the genius that is the NFB. Some gems to start with would be The Sweater, Begone Dull Care (looks like computer animation but was one guy painting each frame of the film to match up to Oscar Peterson's piano playing!), and The Cat Came Back. That's just the tip of the iceberg but it'll get you started. Enjoy a pure and singular piece of Canadian culture.
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by rickbroida
October 23, 2009 6:32 AM PDT
- No disrespect intended. I'd honestly never heard of the NFB (and I live all of 40 miles from Windsor!), and a quick check of their site left me with a PBS impression. One thing is certain: This is a tremendous app, and our own PBS would do well to emulate it!
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by FlawlessKnockoff
October 27, 2009 6:48 AM PDT
- One way to see it is like this :
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(13 Comments)CBC is the national public BROADCASTER
NFB is the national public PRODUCER
That being said, PBS compares much more to the CBC than to the NFB.