Research Guides: Film Studies: Research Overview

New Database Package - ProQuest Arts Premium

The library now has a subscription to ProQuest Arts Premium, which includes Art/Design/Architecture, Music/Performing Arts, and Screen Studies collections. Search them together or individually using the links below.

FIAF International Index to Film Periodicals Database
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This database is an essential reference work for any film researcher and contains a diverse range of specialist content: the International Index to Film Periodicals contains over 500,000 article citations from more than 345 periodicals. It offers in-depth coverage of the world's foremost academic and popular film journals, many of which are seamlessly linked to a growing library of film journals.
Film Index International
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Produced in collaboration with the British Film Institute (bfi) it is based on the Summary of Film and Television (SIFT) database collated by the bfi over the past 70 years. Film Index International provides in-depth indexing of over 125,000 films - from the first silent movies to the latest blockbusters - and biographical information for more than 800,000 personalities. Its rich content also includes coverage of international film awards and prizes as well as searchable plot summaries and full cast and crew lists.
AFI Catalog
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Since the initiation of the project in 1968, the mandate of the AFI Catalog has been to catalog every American motion picture either produced in the United States or sponsored and financed by American companies as an aid to the preservation of the American national film heritage. Drawing on the expertise of specialist staff at the American Film Institute (AFI), the AFI Cataloging currently covers the years 1893-1974 comprehensively, with additional records covering selected major films from 1975 onwards.

General Library Resources

Graduate Center Library
Starting point for finding books, articles, journals, databases, interlibrary loan, electronic reference, and more

OneSearch
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OneSearch combines many initial searches into one interface: it includes the CUNY library catalog; a massive index of articles from journals, magazines, and newspapers; and unique digital content. For more details, see our OneSearch blog post series.

CUNY Classic Catalog
Search for books, journals, and audiovisual materials at all CUNY libraries. If a book is not available at the Graduate Center but is available at another CUNY library, you can have it delivered to the Graduate Center by clicking Request. Reference books, reserve books, special collections, audiovisual materials, periodicals, and electronic books may not be requested.
Interlibrary Loan
Need an article from a journal not at the Graduate Center? Need a book that not available from any CUNY library? Go here to submit an interlibrary-loan request.
24/7 E-mail and Chat Reference
Use this service to ask reference questions at any time. E-mail questions will be answered by Graduate Center librarians. Chat questions may be answered by librarians at other institutions. Please do not use this service for circulation, interlibrary loan, or Information Technology questions. Contact these departments directly.

Visiting Other Libraries

MaRLI (Manhattan Research Library Initiative)
This research initiative allows selected researchers access and circulation privileges at Columbia University, New York University, and New York Public Library's research libraries. To be eligible, you must have a NYPL library card and demonstrate research need.
Other CUNY Libraries
All CUNY students and faculty have access to all CUNY libraries and may check out books at all but CUNY Law. Reference books, special collections, audiovisual materials, and electronic resources may be used only within these libraries.
Metro Referral Cards
Ask at the reference desk on the second floor of the Graduate Center library for one-time-only passes to New York City area libraries, beyond CUNY.
If items are available at a CUNY library, you would use CLICs (Inter-library borrowing) or visit that library in person; Metro Cards are used for one-time to access beyond CUNY's collections. For longer access, see MaRLI above.