diff --git a/database.py b/database.py
index c224d2c..e18e1c6 100644
--- a/database.py
+++ b/database.py
@@ -1884,3 +1884,102 @@ async def update_friendly_name_cid(actor_id: str, old_cid: str, new_cid: str) ->
             actor_id, old_cid, new_cid
         )
         return "UPDATE 1" in result
+
+
+# =============================================================================
+# SYNCHRONOUS DATABASE FUNCTIONS (for use from non-async contexts like video streaming)
+# =============================================================================
+
+def resolve_friendly_name_sync(
+    actor_id: str,
+    name: str,
+    item_type: Optional[str] = None,
+) -> Optional[str]:
+    """
+    Synchronous version of resolve_friendly_name using psycopg2.
+
+    Useful when calling from synchronous code (e.g., video streaming callbacks)
+    where async/await is not possible.
+
+    Returns CID or None if not found.
+    """
+    import psycopg2
+
+    parts = name.strip().split(' ')
+    base_name = parts[0]
+    version_id = parts[1] if len(parts) > 1 else None
+
+    try:
+        conn = psycopg2.connect(DATABASE_URL)
+        cursor = conn.cursor()
+
+        if version_id:
+            # Exact version lookup
+            if item_type:
+                query = """
+                    SELECT cid FROM friendly_names
+                    WHERE actor_id = %s AND base_name = %s AND version_id = %s AND item_type = %s
+                """
+                cursor.execute(query, (actor_id, base_name, version_id, item_type))
+            else:
+                query = """
+                    SELECT cid FROM friendly_names
+                    WHERE actor_id = %s AND base_name = %s AND version_id = %s
+                """
+                cursor.execute(query, (actor_id, base_name, version_id))
+        else:
+            # Latest version lookup
+            if item_type:
+                query = """
+                    SELECT cid FROM friendly_names
+                    WHERE actor_id = %s AND base_name = %s AND item_type = %s
+                    ORDER BY created_at DESC LIMIT 1
+                """
+                cursor.execute(query, (actor_id, base_name, item_type))
+            else:
+                query = """
+                    SELECT cid FROM friendly_names
+                    WHERE actor_id = %s AND base_name = %s
+                    ORDER BY created_at DESC LIMIT 1
+                """
+                cursor.execute(query, (actor_id, base_name))
+
+        result = cursor.fetchone()
+        cursor.close()
+        conn.close()
+
+        return result[0] if result else None
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        import sys
+        print(f"resolve_friendly_name_sync ERROR: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return None
+
+
+def get_ipfs_cid_sync(cid: str) -> Optional[str]:
+    """
+    Synchronous version of get_ipfs_cid using psycopg2.
+
+    Returns the IPFS CID for a given internal CID, or None if not found.
+    """
+    import psycopg2
+
+    try:
+        conn = psycopg2.connect(DATABASE_URL)
+        cursor = conn.cursor()
+
+        cursor.execute(
+            "SELECT ipfs_cid FROM cache_items WHERE cid = %s",
+            (cid,)
+        )
+
+        result = cursor.fetchone()
+        cursor.close()
+        conn.close()
+
+        return result[0] if result else None
+
+    except Exception as e:
+        import sys
+        print(f"get_ipfs_cid_sync ERROR: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return None