Library of Congress: talks and concerts

865–912 of 8,304 films, free to watch, from the world's open archives.

Where these films come from, and who sees what

Every film here plays from the archive that keeps it: the Internet Archive, Wikimedia Commons, the NASA Image and Video Library, the Library of Congress and Open Images (the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision). Nothing is copied to this site. Each film's page names its archive, links to its page there, and states its licence or status as the archive does.

Archive films carry no age ratings, so each is placed from the collections it sits in and the subjects the archive gives it, cautiously. Sexual content and nudity are left out altogether.

Little OnesFilms for young children by name: nursery rhymes, lullabies, preschool.
KidsCartoons and animation, children's and family films, and educational films, unless they deal with war, propaganda, crime, horror or drugs, or carry racial caricature.
TweensDocumentaries, science, nature and space, classic comedies, newsreels, commercials and lectures.
TeensEverything else, including anything we cannot tell about; war, crime, horror and westerns go no lower.
AdultSexual themes (such as the old "sex hygiene" films), gore, surgery, slaughter, atrocity footage.
Library of Congress Unique Detectives (and Odd Murderers): Mysteries with Lauren Nossett and Tim Sullivan 2026 · Talk · 56 min Goodbye, Sherlock Holmes. Forget you, Hercule Poirot! The detectives in Lauren Nossett (“Indie Darling”) and Tim Sullivan’s (“The Tailor: A DS George Cross… Library of Congress Dark Deceit and Monstrous Waters: New Novels by Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Hannah Whitten 2026 · Talk · 56 min Sinister secrets lurk deliciously around every corner. … Bestselling authors Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Hannah Whitten discuss their new hair-raising novels.… Library of Congress Filmmaker Martin Scorsese on Preserving America’s Film History 2026 · Talk · 47 min The Library of Congress’ National Audio-Visual Conservation Center presents a conversation with Academy Award-winning filmmaker and preservation advocate… Library of Congress “1,000 Days in America” with Historians Douglas Brinkley and Annette Gordon-Reed 2026 · Talk · 41 min To celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States, we look back to explore the moments that defined the character of this country. Award-winning historians… Library of Congress Kate McKinnon: Teller of Tales, Purveyor of Mad Science 2026 · Talk · 43 min So, you like science? Have you tried… mad science? Join actress and author Kate McKinnon in conversation with Amna Nawaz to discuss “Secrets of the Purple… Library of Congress You Want to Live Forever? Are You Sure? Horror Novels by Johnny Compton and Nick Cutter 2026 · Talk · 58 min A sage man once asked us: “Who wants to live forever?” Horror writers Johnny Compton and Nick Cutter would probably respond: “absolutely nobody.” In Compton’s… Library of Congress Folktales Never End, Only Evolve, with Amal El-Mohtar and Chloe Gong 2026 · Talk · 58 min Mythology and legends continuously inspire us. Join award-winning authors Amal El-Mohtar and Chloe Gong for an exploration of their latest books and stories.… Library of Congress Book to Screen with Jordan Moblo of Universal Studio Group and Jordy’s Book Club 2026 · Talk · 45 min Hear how books transform into hit television series from Universal Studio Group’s Jordan Moblo, executive vice president of creative acquisitions and IP… Library of Congress “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World,” with Director Sasha Waters 2026 · Talk · 34 min The Library of Congress is home to the Mary Oliver Papers, the archives of the beloved poet. This event features Sasha Waters, the director of the forthcoming… Library of Congress Max Brooks Presents “The Harlem Hellfighters” Radio Play and Graphic Novel 2026 · Talk · 1 h 7 min The Library of Congress Veterans History Project presents a multi-media program with the bestseller Max Brooks, author of the nonfiction graphic novel “The… Library of Congress Find Yourself in Copyright 2026 · Talk · 27 min What do writers and readers need to know about copyright? In 20 minutes, explore common copyright myths, and test your knowledge of copyright information with… Library of Congress Introducing The Source: A Research Gallery for Kids 2026 · Talk · 19 min In May, the Library opened The Source, an experiential gallery welcoming visitors, particularly kids ages 8-15 with their families and school groups, to… Library of Congress American Stories: A Reading Road Trip 2026 · Talk · 22 min In honor of America’s 250th birthday, the Library of Congress, its affiliated Centers for the Book and PBS Books have created a video series that explores the… Library of Congress Tell Me a Story: 250 Years of Children’s Books in America 2026 · Talk · 28 min With more than half a million children’s books in its collections, the Library of Congress has generations of childhood favorites on its shelves! Author… Library of Congress The America 250 Time Capsule: How Library Scientists Guided the Longevity Inside 2026 · Talk · 30 min Preservation Research and Testing Division staff worked closely with the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, also known as America 250, to help ensure that… Library of Congress From Grievance to Governance: How the Declaration of Independence Informs the Constitution 2026 · Talk · 30 min Examine the Declaration of Independence’s reasons for revolution and how the problems of government reflected in these grievances later informed the… Library of Congress Transcribe History for America’s 250th Birthday! 2026 · Talk · 25 min The By the People program invites the public to transcribe digitized Library of Congress collections online at crowd.loc.gov. We are excited to introduce you… Library of Congress America 250: Innovation in America’s Cultural Institutions 2026 · Talk · 30 min Libraries, archives and museums are using AI to bring new understanding, access and preservation to our shared history. Learn about Revolution Crossroads, an… Library of Congress Touching History: Tactile Maps of the American Revolution 2026 · Talk · 29 min The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) and the Geography and Maps Division will present on revolutionary war maps made accessible… Library of Congress Preserving “Common Sense” (1776) and Other Historic Pamphlets 2026 · Talk · 28 min Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” (1776) and other pamphlets were “the blogs of their time,” an integral part of America’s independence and a cornerstone of… Library of Congress How to Draw Native American Pictographs: Workshop for All Ages with S.D. Nelson 2026 · Talk · 28 min Join award-winning Standing Rock Sioux author/illustrator S.D. Nelson in an art workshop for kids, adults and everyone in-between. Follow along with your own… Library of Congress “Dear Adult: Your Turn to Listen” Letter Writing Workshop with Amber McBride and 826DC 2026 · Talk · 18 min Throughout time, individuals have used letter writing to persuasively share ideas, opinions and questions with their community leaders. Now it’s your turn!… Library of Congress Literature to Life Presents “Zora Folk Tales” 2026 · Talk · 47 min Learn the art of storytelling from celebrated author and anthropologist, Zora Neale Hurston! In this interactive theater performance presented by Literature… Library of Congress Readings from the 2026 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellows 2026 · Talk · 58 min Join the 2026 Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellows as they share their poems. These individuals are poets of literary merit and serve as poets laureate… Library of Congress PEN/Faulkner Presents a Fiction Writing Workshop with Novelist Angie Kim 2026 · Talk · 47 min How do you start a story? And once you start, what do you need to do to keep going — and end at the right place? In this workshop, New York Times bestselling… Library of Congress How to Make Your Own Podcast with The Kitchen Sisters 2026 · Talk · 1 h 3 min Are you a fan of the Kitchen Sisters and curious to learn about their work? Then this workshop is for you! Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva will cover… Library of Congress Create Your Own RPG Character with Amal El-Mohtar 2026 · Talk · 56 min Ready to roll the (D20) dice? Join award-winning author Amal El-Mohtar for a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) character sheet workshop! El-Mohtar has a… Library of Congress How Authors Write: From First Idea to Final Draft 2026 · Talk · 5 min Hear firsthand from Kate McKinnon, Chanel Miller, Amber McBride, Meg Cabot, Victor Piñeiro, and Jennifer Lynn Barnes about their writing processes and the… Library of Congress Authors Reveal What Inspires Them to Write and Read 2026 · Talk · 4 min At the 2026 National Book Festival, authors Kate McKinnon, Andrew Sean Greer, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and Shannon Hale share the ideas and experiences that… Library of Congress Behind the Lies: Literary True Crime with Pamela Colloff and Patrick Radden Keefe 2026 · Talk · 1 h 8 min Journalists Pamela Colloff (“Catch the Devil”) and Patrick Radden Keefe (“London Falling”), revered for their investigative and writing prowess, discuss the… Library of Congress Friends Who Are Family, Family Who Are Friends: Novels by Tayari Jones and Ann Patchett 2026 · Talk · 52 min Ann Patchett (“Whistler”), who will be receiving the 2026 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction at this event, and award-winning author Tayari Jones… Library of Congress Michael Feinstein, the Ambassador of the Great American Songbook 2026 · Talk · 40 min The Library of Congress’ Music Division presents a conversation with legendary American musician and writer Michael Feinstein. At this event, Feinstein will… Library of Congress Meet-Cute Mishaps in Tia Williams’ New Romantic Comedy “The Missed Connection” 2026 · Talk · 43 min How far would you travel for love? In award-winning author Tia Williams’ new romance novel “The Missed Connection,” casting agent Sasha Cruz sets out to… Library of Congress The Future of Government: Bold Ideas, with Marc J. Dunkelman and Annie Lowrey 2026 · Talk · 57 min Marc J. Dunkelman (“Why Nothing Works”) and Annie Lowrey (“The Time Tax”) tackle the topic of how the government functions via different approaches —… Library of Congress How the Founders’ Revolutionary Ideas Emerged: Lindsay M. Chervinsky, Sarah M.S. Pearsall 2026 · Talk · 58 min The founding of the U.S. did not, and does not, exist in a vacuum. Lindsay M. Chervinsky, a contributor to “The American Revolution and America’s Role in the… Library of Congress Food, Nature and Our American Legacy with Nephi Craig and Beronda L. Montgomery 2026 · Talk · 56 min A meal, a tree, a history, a culture: how do you tell wide-encompassing human stories through elements of daily life? Nephi Craig (“Our Knives Will Save Us”),… Library of Congress Walk the Walk: Looking for American History with Isaac Fitzgerald and Beverly Gage 2026 · Talk · 57 min Take a trip through American history with authors Beverly Gage and Isaac Fitzgerald, as they journey through their latest nonfiction books. Gage’s “This Land… Library of Congress “American Scoundrel”: A Biography of Roy Cohn, with Kai Bird and Susan Goldmark 2026 · Talk · 42 min “American Scoundrel,” created and written by Pulitzer-winning historian and journalist Kai Bird and Susan Goldmark (coauthors and married couple), reveals the… Library of Congress Rediscovering Lewis and Clark, with Elizabeth Adelman and Craig Fehrman 2026 · Talk · 56 min If you grew up in the U.S., you likely know about Lewis and Clark’s expedition. Two authors invite us to consider them through new lenses: Elizabeth Adelman… Library of Congress The Revolutionary History of Black Comedy, with Geoff Bennett 2026 · Talk · 45 min Award winning journalist and PBS NewsHour co-anchor Geoff Bennett speaks on his latest nonfiction book, “Black Out Loud,” thoroughly examining and… Library of Congress You Can Go Home Again (But It’s Not Easy), with Tom Perrotta and Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney 2026 · Talk · 55 min Leaving home may be complex, but returning may be just as emotionally loaded. In Tom Perrotta (“Ghost Town”) and Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney’s (“Lake Effect”)… Library of Congress “Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children,” with Mac Barnett 2026 · Talk · 45 min When was the last time you read a picture book? For author Mac Barnett, the ninth U.S. National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, children’s books are… Library of Congress The Kitchen Sisters and Andrew Sean Greer: A Conversation Among Friends 2026 · Talk · 53 min The Library of Congress American Folklife Center presents a conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Andrew Sean Greer (“Villa Coco”) and the Peabody… Library of Congress Our Ghosts and Stories Never Leave Us: Historical Fantasy by Sunyi Dean and Hayley Gelfuso 2026 · Talk · 57 min What do you do when your past — or all of recorded history — doesn’t just haunt you, but terrorizes you? Do you dare to face it? The characters in Sunyi Dean… Library of Congress Stepping Out of the (Barbie) Box, with Alex Aster 2026 · Talk · 46 min Bestselling young adult writer Alex Aster has taken on a new collaborator (of sorts!): Barbie. Yes, that Barbie. Her new novel, “Barbie: Dreamscape,” is a… Library of Congress Into Other Worlds: Poetry Translation with U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze and Emily Wilson 2026 · Talk · 1 h 1 min How do you bring a poem from one language (or a dead one) to life in another language? Emily Wilson (“Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea”) and U.S. Poet Laureate… Library of Congress Families Are Messy, Aren’t They?: New Fiction by Karan Mahajan and Bsrat Mezghebe 2026 · Talk · 57 min The new novels by Karan Mahajan (“The Complex”) and Bsrat Mezghebe (“I Hope You Find What You’re Looking For”) are odes to family, taking place against the… Library of Congress Let’s Welcome “I Survived” Writer Lauren Tarshis! 2026 · Talk · 29 min Alone, injured, and surrounded… could you survive being trapped in the wilderness? Hear Lauren Tarshis discuss her newest entry in her popular series, “I…