Public Domain & Creative Commons Resources

The Internet is a wonderful place for finding videos, images, motion graphics, clip art, music, and sound effects that can be used in your films. Below is a list of resources to help with finding materials that are either in the public domain or have been licensed through Creative Commons.

Beware, however, that the Internet is also a terribly unreliable place and the burden of proof will fall on Producers to document that the production has the rights to use the materials, so that there’s a clear chain of title. For works in the public domain, this can sometimes take a fair amount of research, as licensing information can be unclear, unreliable, or hard to track down. Any works published 95 years ago or earlier are now in the public domain. Any works published in the past 95 years should be assumed to be under copyright, unless otherwise confirmed. Be aware that new versions of works in the public domain — e.g., a New York Symphony Orchestra’s recent recording of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony — are copyrighted. In other words, while you could perform the composition yourself and be alright, you couldn’t use the New York Symphony Orchestra’s recording without clearing it first.

For Creative Commons work, some license types (such as “NoDerivs” and “ShareAlike”) are not compatible with the work we do. Productions are only permitted to use work licensed as “Attribution” or “Attribution-NonCommercial”.

Videos

PexelsFree videos that can be used and modified without attribution.
PixabayFree videos that can be used and modified without attribution.
Prelinger ArchivesFree public domain films that can be used and modified without attribution.
NASAFree videos that can be used and modified, if compliant with NASA’s usage guidelines.
WikimediaFree videos issued under various licenses; be sure to read the usage guidelines.
VidevoFree videos issued under various licenses; be sure to read the usage guidelines.

Images

PexelsFree photos that can be used and modified without attribution.
PixabayFree photos that can be used and modified without attribution.
Library of CongressFree photos to use and modify; each collection has its own rights statement on usage.
Icons 8Designers, download the design stuff for free — icons, photos, UX illustrations, and music for your videos.
Biodiversity Heritage LibraryFree botanical and animal images from the largest open-access digital archive dedicated life on Earth.
Burst (by Shopify)Free stock images that can be used and modified without attribution.
FreerangeFree photos and illustrations that can be used and modified without attribution the under the Creative Commons Zero license.
freestocks.orgFree stock photos that can be used and modified without attribution under the under the Creative Commons Zero license.
Foodies FeedFree images of food that can be used and modified without attribution under the under the Creative Commons Zero license.
GratisographyFree “whimsical” photos that can be used and modified without attribution (see usage guidelines).
ISO RepublicFree photos that can be used and modified without attribution the under the Creative Commons Zero license.
Jay MantriFree photos that can be used and modified without attribution the under the Creative Commons Zero license.
Kaboom PicsFree stock photography and color palettes that can be used and modified without attribution.
Life of PixFree high-resolution photos, no copyright restrictions for personal and commercial use.
Little VisualsFree, high resolution images. Use them anyway you want – free for commercial use.
MorguefileRoyalty Free Stock Photos and Images
Over 400,000 free stock photos for commercial use.
New Old StockVintage photos from the public archives.
PicographyHigh-Resolution, Royalty-Free, Stock Photos that you can use however you like with a free license.
PikwizardLibrary of over 1 million stock images and videos. Royalty-free and safe for commercial use, with no attribution required.
RawpixelDiscover original artworks from a library of public domain books and chromolithographs. Art prints scanned and digitally enhanced into high resolution, available to download under the CC0 license.
ReshotFree Icons & Illustrations. Design freely with instant downloads and commercial licenses.
SkitterphotoA place to find, show and share public domain photos.
Stocksnap.ioNew CC0 stock photos added daily, free from copyright restrictions.
StockvaultFree stock images. New photos, textures, and illustrations added daily.
Styled StockFree stock photos. Beautiful FEMININE styled images for your projects.
UnsplashThe internet’s source for visuals. Powered by creators everywhere.
Vintage Stock PhotosVintage Stock Photos. Free.

Motion Graphics

Pond 5Free stock videos, photos, and music.
VidevoFree motion graphics issued under various licenses; read the usage guidelines.

Clip art

artvex.comOver 10,000 original free clipart images.
ClipArt ETCEducational clipart,
ClipartOfFree clip art.
clker.comFree clip art.
WebweaverClipart, vectors and animations.
VecteezyFree vector images. Find the best royalty free vectors and illustrations for your design, with thousands of new images added every day. Download free backgrounds, graphics, clipart, drawings, icons, logos and more that are safe for commercial use.

Music

Muse OpenClassical music.
Free Music Archiveinteractive library of high-quality, legal audio downloads directed by WFMU, the most renowned freeform radio station in America.
Free music public domainRoyalty free music for home videos, Youtube videos, film & movie scores, commercial background music or personal use.
Freesounda collaborative database of Creative Commons Licensed sounds.
Anthony KozarComposer and open-source programmer.
AudionautixThe music on this site is the creation of Jason Shaw.
Bensound.comDownload royalty free stock music for YouTube and your multimedia projects.
Brett Van Donselprovides affordable music options for filmmakers, YouTubers, gamers, podcasters, advertisers and more. Most of the music is royalty free. 
Filmmusic.ioOver 600 tracks, free even for commercial use, primarily with cinematic music by Sascha Ende.
Gravity SoundFree Music and Sound Effects for Personal and Commercial Use.
IncompetechRoyalty free music by Kevin MacLeod.
Josh WoodwardAcoustic indie rock singer/songwriter. Creative Commons Music.
King JamesRoyalty free music.
Kongano.comThis site contains royalty-free mp3s for you to listen, download and do whatever you want with.
Silverman Sound StudiosBackground music for YouTube, videos, games, films, adverts, podcasts, anything! All totally free to download!
TechnoAXERoyalty Free Music for your commercial/non-commercial videos or projects. This website has Techno, Dubstep, Metal, Rock or Soundtrack.
Tim BeekMusic for media.
Twin MusicomInnovative audio production.
VidevoFree music issued under various licenses; be sure to read the usage guidelines.
WOWAFree music.

Sound effects

FreesoundFind any sound you like in a collaborative collection of 648,846 free sounds.
VidevoFree sound effects issued under various licenses; read the usage guidelines.
ZapSplatDownload over 46,000 free professional sounds.