Kanopy, the streamer that’s free and accessible to anyone with a library card, has moved from being the “best kept secret” in streaming to the secret being out. At least that’s the feeling of Kanopy’s GM Jason Tyrell, who has watched as the streamer has grown in popularity since launching in 2008.
When we spoke with Tyrell in March 2024, Kanopy was accessible via roughly 40 percent of libraries in North America. That number is now closer to 50 percent.
But the next frontier of Kanopy’s growth is reaching people who don’t yet have a library card and might be inclined to sign up for one or seek one out. That’s why Kanopy on Friday is releasing its first original film title as part of a new division at the streamer dedicated to seeking out and distributing original films and series.
The film is called “Banned Together,” a documentary about the history of banning books and the current state of combatting censorship and erasure of literature in U.S. public schools. Just as with any of the other 30,000+ titles Kanopy licenses, “Banned Together” is available to every library using the platform, and anyone accessing Kanopy with a library card can watch it with no added fee or ads.
The film, directed by Kate Way and Tom Wiggin, follows three students in Beaufort, South Carolina who fought back when 97 books were pulled from their school’s library.
Because it’s all about books, it’s obviously a topic that’s close to home for libraries and their continued existence. But “Banned Together” isn’t the only project Kanopy hopes to release, and it’s all part of the streamer’s goal to meet the needs of libraries and an ever evolving academic mandate.
“We’ve seen the landscape for independent film shift after being very heavily embraced by the major consumer streamers. It’s been pretty grim over the past couple of years,” Tyrell said. “Meanwhile, there are these fantastic stories out there that are resonating with audiences; they’re just not finding either a production partner or a streaming home that’s going to invest in them. So that led us to say, outside of just acquisitions, what can we do that’s aligned with the needs of libraries where we can find the right mix of stories that appeal to library audiences in maybe a different way than what they’re finding in commercial streaming?”
Kanopy came aboard “Banned Together” about two years ago when the film was just beginning production. And while the film seemed like the perfect fit, the decision to branch into originals was hatched hand in hand with becoming a co-producing partner on the documentary.
Kanopy had already done a number of co-acquisition partnerships, most notably last year’s Oscar-nominated doc “Soundtrack to a Coup D’Etat” alongside Kino Lorber, joining the film as its official library and educational distributor. But “Banned Together” is the first time they’re working as co-producers and releasing the film exclusively via libraries and academic institutions.
The film will be available through other digital distribution means via FilmHub, and other rights are still available should another streamer or network want to make it (or other future Kanopy originals) available as part of a second release window. Like any producer, even though Kanopy is releasing the film to free for libraries, it has a fiduciary responsibility to the filmmakers to get it to the widest audience possible. That means finding other means of release down the road, be it physical media or broadcast licensing.
Up next for Kanopy: an original, unscripted series called “America’s Next Great Author.” Tyrell says it’s “The Voice” but for authors, and it’s created and hosted by bestseller Kwame Alexander. The series is in development now and will air in 2026.
Tyrell says the goal is to release two to four original titles a year. Kanopy won’t be competing with A24 for Sundance titles anytime soon, but Tyrell hopes to pursue not just documentaries but fictional book adaptations that can tap into a crossover audience of film lovers and avid readers.
“If you think about a library, we don’t want to do something throw away. We don’t want second screen type content,” Tyrell said. “We’re really looking for stories, whether it’s documentary or narrative, that feel like they deepen your experience, introduce you to new worlds or perspectives, and things you may not have engaged with before, but also bring an element of charm and delight in the same way that discovering something new at a library uncovers for people.”
“Banned Together” starts streaming Friday, April 25 on Kanopy.
