Audiovisuelle Medien
The ZB provides you with access to films, including on DVD, Blu-ray® and via streaming platforms. Here, we show you what you can find and where.
Films on disc
The ZB has a collection of films on DVD and Blu-ray®.
You can borrow these and watch them at home, at a screening station in the ZB reading room or in the music department’s media room.
You can search for individual titles via swisscovery. Log in with your library account to order and borrow a DVD.
Films on streaming platforms
The ZB also makes films available to you via streaming platforms. Plus, it shows you how to access films that are available elsewhere.
On this site, you can find:
- The range of streaming options licensed by the ZB
- Streaming options from Swiss institutions
- Streaming options from international archives
- Information on paid streaming platforms showing new films
- Search engines that show where a film can be streamed, via which provider
The streaming platforms mentioned
have either been specially developed for use in teaching and research or permit this use.
You can search for individual film titles directly on the relevant platforms themselves. The titles streamed on Academic Video Online and MIZ Video Online are listed on swisscovery.
If you cannot find what you are looking for, we will be happy to help you on written request.
Streaming platforms for libraries
Streaming options licensed by the ZB are accessible online to both UZH members and registered users, by activating our PURA/SLSKey service for free.
The registration process differs per platform. We recommend accessing the platforms via the ZB e-resource catalogue. You can find the access instructions on this page under «More details».
Academic Video Online: Premium |
Video-on-demand platform for libraries and institutions, higher education level (humanities/social sciences) Contains: Feature films, documentaries, short films, tutorials and educational videos Special features: The videos are listed on swisscovery. Various additional features for use in teaching and research.
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AVA (Audio Visuell Access)
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Video-on-demand platform for public libraries Contains: Independent, art house and documentary films, including short films. Focus: Europe, USA.
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Bloomsbury Video Library  |
Video-on-demand platform for libraries and institutions, higher education level (arts/humanities) Contains: Documentaries, experimental and feature films, biopics, recordings of performances Special features: Various additional features for use in teaching and research.
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Filmfriend
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Video-on-demand platform for public libraries Contains: Feature films, documentaries, film series, children’s films Focus: Germany, Europe, USA Special features: Large collection of children’s films. It can be used via an app.
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Kanopy (Academic)
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Video-on-demand platform for libraries and institutions, higher education level (humanities/social sciences) Contains: Feature films, documentaries and short films from around the world, as well as tutorials and educational videos (focus: USA) Special features: Various additional features for use in teaching and research. It can be used via an app.
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medici.tv
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Video-on-demand platform for libraries and institutions, higher education level (music/music sciences) Contains: Recordings of concerts, ballet and opera performances, live broadcasts and replays. Biopics and documentary films.
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MIZ Video Online
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Video-on-demand platform for libraries and schools, all education levels Contains: Recordings from television broadcasts. Feature films, documentaries, experimental, music, dance and animation films and television programmes. Special features: The videos are listed on swisscovery.
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Streaming options from Swiss institutions
The ZB has compiled a list of streaming platforms from Swiss institutions for you.
Tip: You can also search for older films by checking the streaming options from archives.
Memobase / Memobase+
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The streaming portal of Memoriav, the association for the preservation of Swiss audiovisual culture Contains: Films stored in the Swiss Archives Special features: Various additional features for use in teaching and research. Use: Memobase is free to use. Memobase+ can only be used in certain libraries and archives in Switzerland. You can use Memobase+ at a specially designed work station in the screening room located in the music department at the ZB.
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Mediendatenbank FARO
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Archival database of the SRF (Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen) Contains: Own productions from the SRF, including raw material Use: FARO can only be used in certain libraries and archives in Switzerland. You can use FARO at a specially designed work station in the screening room located in the music department at the ZB.
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Play Suisse
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The streaming archive of the SRG SSR Contains: Feature films, television productions, series and documentary films (partially) financed by the SRG SSR Use: For viewers living in Switzerland, Play Suisse can be accessed for free by creating a personal account. To be able to use the platform in the rest of the EU, please follow the instructions listed under «Unlocking Play Suisse for use in the EU» in the Settings menu.
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| Play SRF
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The online radio and TV platform of the SRF Contains: Here, you can enjoy SRF programmes regardless of when they were broadcast. Use: Play SRF can be used online for free in Switzerland. It can also be used via an app. Note: Programmes are removed after a certain number of weeks. After this, you can find films partially or fully financed by the SRG on Play Suisse
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SWI swissinfo.ch
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International information portal of the SRG SSR Contains: Programmes for an international audience interested in Switzerland in 10 different languages Use: Free to use. It can also be used via an app.
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Lichtspiel/Kinemathek Bern
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Film archive and museum based in Bern Contains: Individual events are broadcast via live stream; films are also sporadically offered via streaming (via the European Film Gateway) Use: Free to use. Charges may be applied in certain conditions.
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Visions du réel at School
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A collection of recent documentary films from the Visions du Réel archive, specially compiled for teaching at secondary school level and above Use: The catalogue is free to browse. Teaching staff can request streaming access for the films.
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Streaming options from archives
We have collated a few of the most important archival platforms and portals for you. The conditions for use differ per archive.
European Film Gateaway (EFG)
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Archival portal that provides access to the streaming collections of film archives and cinemas across the whole of Europe Contains: Films and film historical documents Use: The conditions for use differ per archive
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EUscreen
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One of the streaming portals of the European Commission to preserve European audiovisual heritage Contains: Audiovisual archival material from over 27 European countries Use: Free to use
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Cinémathèque française: HENRI
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Streaming platform of the French film library Contains: Historic films from its inventory
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Filmothek des deutschen Bundesarchivs
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Video portal of the German Federal Archives Contains: Films on German history from the inventory of the German Federal Archives, including film reels and films commissioned by the German Federal Press Agency. Use: Still under construction. The films are free to view, but charges apply for some services
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Österreichische Mediathek
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Streaming portal for the media library entrusted with the preservation of Austria’s audiovisual cultural heritage Contains: Sound recordings and videos on Austrian cultural and contemporary history Use: Free to use online, downloading is forbidden
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UBUWeb
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Online collection of texts and audiovisual materials for non-commercial educational use Contains: Audio recordings, sound and video art, interviews with artists and performers Use: Free to access for non-commercial and educational use. Note: All rights are retained by the authors and must be respected
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Streaming new (cinema) films
We have gathered some Swiss video-on-demand platforms for you, via which you can stream a film recently released at the cinema from the comfort of your home.
These streaming platforms are subject to a charge for you as a user.
| Filmingo
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Video-on-demand platform Contains: Art house films, independent films, documentary films Use: Subject to a charge (subscriptions and individual rentals) |
| Cinefile
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Video-on-demand platform Contains: Feature films and documentary films Use: Subject to a charge (individual rentals) |
| Myfilm
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Video-on-demand platform Contains: Post-screening venue for independent and art house films that were recently shown in Swiss cinemas Use: Subject to a charge (individual rentals) |
Search engines
If you cannot find what you are looking for on the above platforms, then Just Watch Schweiz or Wer streamt es? could help you further.