filmfriend is the Video-on-Demand-Plattform for libraries. The offer reaches from German classics, over to sophisticated documentaries, to international Arthouse-cinema and kids series.
The catalog is continuously extended. filmfriend gives backgrounds information to the film-creators, especially the directors, producers and actors. Different topics are enlightened and an corresponding movie selection is presented with background information and forwarding links on special editorial prepared pages.
Just registrate as usual, with your library-ID or with your university account, as well as your password.
It is important to us to provide all users with barrier-free access to filmfriend. We design our website, mobile and TV apps to support technologies for barrier-free use, e.g. keyboard navigation, screen readers. All pages are easy and intuitive to use. We pay attention to sufficient contrasts and a page structure with semantic markups. Subtitles are individually adjustable in size and color. When possible, we provide audio descriptions and subtitles for the hearing impaired. We are constantly working to make filmfriend even more accessible to all.
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define requirements for websites to improve accessibility for people with impairments. Here you can find detailed documentation on filmfriend's accessibility (VPAT© Version 2.4.Rev) based on these requirements.
We have renovated! And present you the filmfriend website in a fresh, modern look, with new, practical features and many design elements to present our films and series in an even more appealing way. Here is an overview of the most important new features:
Your filmfriend
Search and filters
youth protection
Player
Registration is only possible if you are a member of one of the participating libraries. You will find them in the selection list under "Register".
To register, select your library on the registration form. Then enter your library card number and your password for your library account.
If a login fails, the card number or password may be incorrect or the card may no longer be valid. To verify your library account, please contact your library via the "Contact" tab in the main menu. Select it there as "Desired contact person".
The whole movie offer is free for library costumers, if that library is in cooperation with filmfriend.
PC and Mac? Yes!
filmfriend is starting as a browser based Internet-Portal firstly. That means, that you only need an Internet-Browser to be able to navigate on our system and then watch movies in the browser, doesn’t matter what kind of Computer (PC or Mac) you use.
it’s suggested to keep your Computer operating system and used browser on the newest stand.
Windows 10 and higher or macOS 11 and higher:
Linux:
Tablets and smartphones?
You can use filmfriend on a tablet or smartphone as well.
You can also download the Android-App from filmfriend in the Play store and the iOS-App is found in the App Store.
The mobile browserstreaming is possible
More Information at help and devices.
The most convenient way is to use the filmfriend TV-Apps:
You can download the Apps from the TV-App Stores, the links to download find at help and devices.
Other ways to use filmfriend on TV are as follows:
Connect your PC to the TV using an HDMI cable.
It's even easier for owners of an Apple TV (HD - formaly 4th generation - or higher) or AirPlay-compatible TV. Using the Airplay feature (not screen sync), you can stream the screen content on your iPad or iPhone wirelessly to your TV through Apple TV.
With a Chromecast Stick or with a Chromecast-compatible TV, you can transfer your movies to the TV for Android and Apple devices and navigate from your mobile phone/tablet. Simply plug the stick into your TV and open our platform filmfriend on your mobile phone.
Select the desired film here and press the transfer icon to the TV in the player.
More Information at help and devices.
If you are logged in, Videos that have not played all the way through are displayed on the Home screen in the "Continue Watching" strip.
If available, you can switch languages and subtitles in the player:
You can find which films have which languages and/or subtitles as follows:
If there are subtitles, you can set size and color directly in the player:
One exception is for the Safari browser:
Safari uses the system-wide appearance for displaying subtitles. You can make changes in the Safari browser under System Preferences -> Accessibility -> Subtitles.
There are individual films in which the subtitles are "burned" directly into the picture. It is not possible to make a setting there.
You can find which films have which languages and/or subtitles as follows:
filmfriend offers movies, that got different age ratings. In every registration a verification of age of the user through the library ID is happening.
For the purpose of the authentication by the library is an encrypted channel produced that leads directly to the user databank of the library.
After authentication, the library transfers following status information to filmfriend:
Borrowing privileges, age classification. Is the verified age underneath the age rating for a movie, the user can’t play the movie.
The same applies to the playback of trailers.
PIN
You can also store a PIN for your account and set an age. Movies with an age rating above this age can then only be played when this PIN is entered. PIN and age can be changed. You can find the settings for PIN assignment in your profile area (icon at the top right next to the search).
When using our TV app on Apple TV, you remain logged in by default. You can prevent unauthorised access to filmfriend on your Apple TV using the "Restrictions" setting. To do this, set a 4-digit code in the Settings > Restrictions section, select the Restrictions for apps option and set a restriction for apps > 12 years. You can find detailed instructions on how to do this in the Apple support area. Now all users will first be asked for the 4-digit code when starting the filmfriend app.
Please note that this may also restrict other apps on your Apple TV.
You can collect movies, series and collections in an individual watchlist. You can find the watchlist in your profile area.
You can add movies, series and collections to the Watchlist in two ways:
Removing movies, series and collections is also possible in several ways:
In your watchlist you will find a menu item "Sort" on the right above the watchlist. By clicking on this menu item you will get a selection for the sorting options "Title" or "Recently added". Select an option and click the "Apply" button. The watchlist will be sorted accordingly.
In your watchlist you will find a menu item "Share" on the right above the watchlist. By clicking on this menu item, a pop-up window will show you a public link to the watchlist, which you can copy and share. Recipients can only see the contents of your watchlist via the link. However, they cannot access your account. To play the content, recipients must each sign in with their own account.
If you want to deactivate the public link again, then also click on the "Share" menu item. In the pop-up window, you can deactivate the link by clicking the "Stop sharing" button.
In the filmfriend mobile app you can also download films temporarily for a period of up to 30 days. This allows you to use the app offline in situations where an adequate internet connection is not available. However, copying the movies is prevented by the DRM used.
iOS devices do not allow the connection of an external memory card.
With Android devices it is basically possible to use an external memory. In the filmfriend app you can choose in the "My Downloads" section via the memory icon whether the movie should be downloaded to your device or to an external memory card.
If this icon is not displayed on your device, your device does not support the standards for external storage.
Open the search page via the search button at the top right of the header and enter one or more terms in the search field. With Autocomplete, results are already suggested to you.
All films that contain the term at least once will be displayed. If there are several terms, all terms must be included (AND search).
The result display is prioritised according to how often the or all terms are contained in the title and metadata. Results in which the term(s) appear(s) in the title or in the name of a participant are given higher weighting.
If you do not receive a search result when searching for several terms, you can extend the search. All terms will then be searched individually (OR search).
To the left of the search results you will find further filters to narrow down the results if necessary.
You can find the most popular films of the month directly on the start page in the strip "Popular" or on the search page. There you will find the most popular movies and the most popular series respectively.
Additionally, you can search for popular movies/series with our filter search. To do so, open the search button on the top right. The search page opens with various filters. First select in the filter "Type" whether you are looking for popular movies or series. Click on a list entry to open a page with the filter results. To the left, you will find all the filters once again. Now select the "Popular" filter.
On the homepage you will always find the most recently released films in the strip "NEW".
Additionally, you can search for new movies/series with our filter search. To do so, open the search button on the top right. The search page opens with various filters.
First select in the filter "Type" if you are looking for new movies or series. Click on a list entry to open a page with the filter results. To the left you will find all filters again. Now select the "New" filter.
On the search page we offer various filters. You can open the search page by clicking on the search button in the upper right corner. Below the search bar, you will find various filters, including "age recommendation of the KJF", "age rating (from) and "age rating to".
Clicking on the filter "Age recommendation of the KJF" opens a list of age levels.
The filters for the age rating contain ages from 1 year to 18 years. Select either an entry for an age rating from or up to a certain age here.
Clicking on a list entry opens an overview with all filter results. To the left of the list you will find all filters again, so that you can narrow down the selection further if necessary (e.g. by genre).
Click on the button "Reset all filters" to return to the search.
On the start page you will find films on selected genres in various strips.
Additionally, you can search for genres with our filter search. To do this, open the search button at the top right. The search page opens with various filters.
Clicking on the filter "Genre" opens a selection list with all genres. After selecting a list entry, a page with the filter results opens. On the left side you will find all filters again. Here you can select additional genres to refine the search results.
Several genres can be selected simultaneously. All the films that the selection applies cumulatively will then be displayed.
On the search page we offer various filters. You can open the search page by clicking the search button on the top right. Below the search bar you will find various filters, including "Language", "Language (AD)", "Subtitles", "Subtitles for the hearing impaired".
Clicking on a filter opens a list of languages. Clicking on a list entry opens an overview with all filter results. To the left of the list you will find all filters again, in order to further limit the selection if necessary (e.g. for films with language "English" with German subtitles).
Click on the button "Reset all filters" to return to the search.
On the search page we offer various filters. You can open the search page by clicking on the search button in the upper right corner. Below the search bar you will find various filters, including "Country of production".
Clicking on the filter opens a list of countries. Clicking on a list entry opens an overview with all filter results. To the left of the list you will find all filters again, so that you can further narrow down the selection if necessary (e.g. by genre).
Click on the button "Reset all filters" to return to the search.
On the search page we offer various filters. You can open the search page by clicking on the search button in the upper right corner. Below the search bar you will find various filters, including "Release".
Clicking on the filter opens a list of annual decades. Clicking on a list entry opens an overview with all filter results. To the left of the list you will find all filters again, so that you can narrow down the selection further if necessary (e.g. by genre).
Click on the button "Reset all filters" to return to the search.
On the search page we offer various filters. You can open the search page by clicking on the search button in the upper right corner. Below the search bar you will find various filters, including "Type".
Click on the filter to open a list. Click on the list entry "Collections" to open an overview of all collections.
Click on the button "Reset all filters" to return to the search.
The licenses for movies in different countries are given by different copyright owners.
We do try to show the movies worldwide, but that’s, due to a complicated rights situation, sometimes not possible.
Normally, the movies are at least available in Germany, Austria and the German-speaking part of Switzerland.
Streaming: We suggest an broadband internet connection with at least 2 MBit/s data transmission rate for movies in SD quality and 6 MBit/s data transmission rate for movies in HD-quality. Generally, streams also work with a low speed of Internet.
Our Player automatically takes an adaption of the movie quality, if the Internet speed isn’t enough.
Please keep in mind, that your actual Internet speed is usually slower than giving in the tariff.
In those, it’s regularly giving that the speed can ‘go up to’, which are assumed to be based on an ideal line connection. But if many households share one DSL-line, it’s a must to wipe off some of the connection on a constant basis.
There are many free options on the Internet that can test your actual Internet speed, e.g. at www.wieistmeineip.de/speedtest.
If you can’t find any answers to your question on our FAQ-side, you can always reach out to us per mail at support@filmfriend.de or over the contact form and we’ll answer your question as soon as possible.