diff --git a/main.py b/main.py
index 2f73cac..65b3bfc 100644
--- a/main.py
+++ b/main.py
@@ -202,13 +202,44 @@ class MediaGrader:
             self.current_cap.release()
 
         if self.is_video(file_path):
-            # Suppress OpenCV error messages for unsupported codecs
-            self.current_cap = cv2.VideoCapture(str(file_path))
-            if not self.current_cap.isOpened():
+            # Try different backends for better performance
+            # Order of preference: DirectShow (Windows), FFmpeg, any available
+            backends_to_try = []
+            if hasattr(cv2, 'CAP_DSHOW'):  # Windows DirectShow
+                backends_to_try.append(cv2.CAP_DSHOW)
+            if hasattr(cv2, 'CAP_FFMPEG'):  # FFmpeg
+                backends_to_try.append(cv2.CAP_FFMPEG)
+            backends_to_try.append(cv2.CAP_ANY)  # Fallback
+            
+            self.current_cap = None
+            for backend in backends_to_try:
+                try:
+                    self.current_cap = cv2.VideoCapture(str(file_path), backend)
+                    if self.current_cap.isOpened():
+                        # Optimize buffer settings for better performance
+                        self.current_cap.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_BUFFERSIZE, 1)  # Minimize buffer to reduce latency
+                        # Try to set hardware acceleration if available
+                        if hasattr(cv2, 'CAP_PROP_HW_ACCELERATION'):
+                            self.current_cap.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_HW_ACCELERATION, cv2.VIDEO_ACCELERATION_ANY)
+                        break
+                    self.current_cap.release()
+                except:
+                    continue
+            
+            if not self.current_cap or not self.current_cap.isOpened():
                 print(f"Warning: Could not open video file {file_path.name} (unsupported codec)")
                 return False
+                
             self.total_frames = int(self.current_cap.get(cv2.CAP_PROP_FRAME_COUNT))
             self.current_frame = 0
+            
+            # Get codec information for debugging
+            fourcc = int(self.current_cap.get(cv2.CAP_PROP_FOURCC))
+            codec = "".join([chr((fourcc >> 8 * i) & 0xFF) for i in range(4)])
+            backend = self.current_cap.getBackendName()
+            
+            print(f"Loaded: {file_path.name} | Codec: {codec} | Backend: {backend} | Frames: {self.total_frames}")
+            
         else:
             self.current_cap = None
             self.total_frames = 1
@@ -499,7 +530,29 @@ class MediaGrader:
         load_start = time.time()
         
         shared_cap_start = time.time()
-        shared_cap = cv2.VideoCapture(str(current_file))
+        
+        # Use same backend optimization as main capture
+        backends_to_try = []
+        if hasattr(cv2, 'CAP_DSHOW'):  # Windows DirectShow
+            backends_to_try.append(cv2.CAP_DSHOW)
+        if hasattr(cv2, 'CAP_FFMPEG'):  # FFmpeg
+            backends_to_try.append(cv2.CAP_FFMPEG)
+        backends_to_try.append(cv2.CAP_ANY)  # Fallback
+        
+        shared_cap = None
+        for backend in backends_to_try:
+            try:
+                shared_cap = cv2.VideoCapture(str(current_file), backend)
+                if shared_cap.isOpened():
+                    shared_cap.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_BUFFERSIZE, 1)
+                    break
+                shared_cap.release()
+            except:
+                continue
+        
+        if not shared_cap:
+            shared_cap = cv2.VideoCapture(str(current_file))  # Fallback
+            
         shared_cap_create_time = (time.time() - shared_cap_start) * 1000
         print(f"Capture creation: {shared_cap_create_time:.1f}ms")
         
@@ -585,7 +638,29 @@ class MediaGrader:
         if self.current_cap:
             # Create a temporary capture to avoid interfering with main playback
             current_file = self.media_files[self.current_index]
-            temp_cap = cv2.VideoCapture(str(current_file))
+            
+            # Use optimized backend for temporary capture too
+            temp_cap = None
+            backends_to_try = []
+            if hasattr(cv2, 'CAP_DSHOW'):
+                backends_to_try.append(cv2.CAP_DSHOW)
+            if hasattr(cv2, 'CAP_FFMPEG'):
+                backends_to_try.append(cv2.CAP_FFMPEG)
+            backends_to_try.append(cv2.CAP_ANY)
+            
+            for backend in backends_to_try:
+                try:
+                    temp_cap = cv2.VideoCapture(str(current_file), backend)
+                    if temp_cap.isOpened():
+                        temp_cap.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_BUFFERSIZE, 1)
+                        break
+                    temp_cap.release()
+                except:
+                    continue
+            
+            if not temp_cap:
+                temp_cap = cv2.VideoCapture(str(current_file))  # Fallback
+                
             if temp_cap.isOpened():
                 temp_cap.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_POS_FRAMES, frame_number)
                 ret, frame = temp_cap.read()
@@ -609,9 +684,31 @@ class MediaGrader:
         """Get or create a capture for a specific segment (lazy loading)"""
         if segment_index >= len(self.segment_caps) or self.segment_caps[segment_index] is None:
             if segment_index < len(self.segment_caps):
-                # Create capture on demand
+                # Create capture on demand with optimized backend
                 current_file = self.media_files[self.current_index]
-                cap = cv2.VideoCapture(str(current_file))
+                
+                # Use optimized backend for segment capture
+                cap = None
+                backends_to_try = []
+                if hasattr(cv2, 'CAP_DSHOW'):
+                    backends_to_try.append(cv2.CAP_DSHOW)
+                if hasattr(cv2, 'CAP_FFMPEG'):
+                    backends_to_try.append(cv2.CAP_FFMPEG)
+                backends_to_try.append(cv2.CAP_ANY)
+                
+                for backend in backends_to_try:
+                    try:
+                        cap = cv2.VideoCapture(str(current_file), backend)
+                        if cap.isOpened():
+                            cap.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_BUFFERSIZE, 1)
+                            break
+                        cap.release()
+                    except:
+                        continue
+                
+                if not cap:
+                    cap = cv2.VideoCapture(str(current_file))  # Fallback
+                    
                 if cap.isOpened():
                     cap.set(cv2.CAP_PROP_POS_FRAMES, self.segment_positions[segment_index])
                     self.segment_caps[segment_index] = cap
@@ -1060,6 +1157,11 @@ class MediaGrader:
             for _ in range(frames_to_skip + 1):
                 ret, frame = self.current_cap.read()
                 if not ret:
+                    # Hit actual end of video - check if frame count was wrong
+                    actual_frame = int(self.current_cap.get(cv2.CAP_PROP_POS_FRAMES))
+                    if actual_frame < self.total_frames - 5:  # Allow some tolerance
+                        print(f"Frame count mismatch! Reported: {self.total_frames}, Actual: {actual_frame}")
+                        self.total_frames = actual_frame
                     return False
 
             self.current_display_frame = frame