Frequently Asked Questions

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

• registration directly in the header
• watchlist can be sorted and shared
• collections can be added to the watchlist
• strip "Continue watching" on the start page
• button "show all films" at filmstrips
• extensive functions for barrier-free use

Search and filters

• Filters are now integrated in the search.
• suggestion function in search
• new filter age rating
• new filter release by decade
• age recommendation of the KJF links to other films with this age recommendation

youth protection

• trailers are only playable after login
• PIN entry is variable adjustable to a certain age

Player

• Skip opening credits for series
• Auto-Play for series episodes
• 10-second skip
• Picture in picture function
• Subtitles adjustable in size and color
• AD (audio description) and SDH (subtitles for the hearing impaired) marking

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:

• Microsoft Edge from version 88
• Firefox from version 89 (with Plugin "Widevine Content Decryption Module Version 4.10.1440.18 and higher)
• Google Chrome from version 88 
• Safari form version 15

Linux:

• Firefox from version 89 (with Plugin "Widevine Content Decryption Module Version 4.10.1440.18 and higher)
• Google Chrome from version 88
• Chromium

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

• on Android- (version 11 and higher, with Chrome 88 and higher)
• and iOS-devices (version 15 and higher, with Safari).

More Information at help and devices.

The most convenient way is to use the filmfriend TV-Apps:

• Apple TV (tvOS 13.0 or newer)
• Android TV
• Fire TV

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:

• Start the movie first. At the bottom right you will find three dots.
• Click on it, a selection menu appears.
• Under "Language" select the desired language and under "Subtitles" the subtitles.
• The menu items are only displayed if additional languages or subtitles are available.

You can find which films have which languages and/or subtitles as follows: 

• Open the search via the search button above
• You will find various filters under the search bar, including language and subtitle filters
• Clicking on a button for language or subtitle will open a selection list
• Clicking on the required language opens a page with all titles we offer for your selection
• On the left side you will find the filters again, in order to make a further restriction if necessary
• With the button "Reset all filters" you get back to the search

If there are subtitles, you can set size and color directly in the player:

• First start the movie. At the bottom right you will find three dots.
• Click on it and a selection menu will appear.
• Click on "Subtitle"
• Under the selection of subtitles offered you will find the settings for the font size and a choice between the colors white, yellow and green for the subtitle color.

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: 

• Open the search via the search button above
• You will find various filters under the search bar, including language and subtitle filters
• Clicking on a button for language or subtitle will open a selection list
• Clicking on the required language opens a page with all titles we offer for your selection
• On the left side you will find the filters again, in order to make a further restriction if necessary
• With the button "Reset all filters" you get back to the search

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:

• Mouseover the preview images in browser and a colored icon will appear in the upper left corner. Click on this icon to add the movie, series or collection to the Watchlist.
• On the respective detail page of the film, series or collection you will find a button "Watchlist". Click this button to add the movie, series or collection to the Watchlist.

Removing movies, series and collections is also possible in several ways:

• On the respective detail page of the movie, series or collections you will find a button "Watchlist". If a movie, series or collection is already on the watchlist, the icon in the button is filled in color. By clicking on the button you can remove the movie, series or collection from the watchlist again.
• You can also remove content from the Watchlist directly in your Watchlist in your profil. With mouseover on a preview picture in browser an icon appears on the top left. Clicking on the icon removes the content from the watchlist. The next time you load the browser, the content will no longer appear in your watchlist.
• You can also remove several items from the watchlist at the same time: Above the watchlist you will find a menu item "Edit" on the right. When you click on it, small circles will appear at the top left of all content. Click on these circles to select all the content you want to remove. By clicking on the "Remove" button, all marked content will be removed and will no longer be visible after the next loading of the browser.

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.

• Either select a suggested result: Then a page opens with the movie as search result.
• Or click on the arrow on the right in the search field. Then a page opens with all matching search results.

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.