The National Film Board of Canada is once again showing off its geek cred by releasing an iPhone app that lets you watch hundreds of NFB films free.

Launched Oct. 20, the app has already reached the coveted Top Free Apps section of the Apple’s App store.

The iPhone users who downloaded it can watch full documentaries and animated films, including trailers, found on the NFB website. A Watch Later feature lets you load films on your iPhone for up to 24 hours so you can check them out offline later.

Films available to download include Ryan, Every Child, Hitman Hart: Wrestling with Shadows, Discordia and The Rocket.

The NFB’s foray into iPhone apps isn’t its first free content venture online.

Last January, to celebrate its 70^th anniversary, it overhauled its site to allow anyone to view hundreds of films free, using streaming technology. National Film Board chair Tom Perlmutter recently said, “I’ve had people tell me I’m wrecking their home life because they’re spending so much time on the NFB website.” 

So far, everything the NFB has done with new media has been golden. Whenever an old-school company embraces innovative ideas that have become de rigeur for the tech-savvy crowd, they should be applauded. After all, NFB has to compete with YouTube and DailyMotion for our online-video time. Judging by their recent moves, they are definitely the latest Web darling for Canadians.