diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 71d78f634..46451748c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ concurrency:
   cancel-in-progress: true
 
 env:
+  FREEBSD_CLANG_VERSION: 19
   LINUX_GCC_VERSION: 12
   MACOSX_DEPLOYMENT_TARGET: 13.0
 
@@ -78,16 +79,30 @@ jobs:
             shell: msys2 {0}
             msystem: clangarm64
             toolchain: clang-aarch64
+          - name: FreeBSD-amd64
+            os: ubuntu-latest
+            arch: x86_64
+            bsd_release: '14.3'
+            generator: "Unix Makefiles"
+            shell: freebsd {0}
+          - name: FreeBSD-aarch64
+            os: ubuntu-latest  # ubuntu-24.04-arm is slower with the FreeBSD VM
+            arch: aarch64
+            bsd_release: '14.3'
+            generator: "Unix Makefiles"
+            shell: freebsd {0}
     defaults:
       run:
         shell: ${{ matrix.shell }}
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
+        with:
+          submodules: recursive
 
       - name: Prepare Dependencies Linux
         id: cross_compile
-        if: runner.os == 'Linux'
+        if: runner.os == 'Linux' && !startsWith(matrix.shell, 'freebsd')
         run: |
           echo "::group::distro detection"
           # detect dist name like bionic, focal, etc
@@ -254,7 +269,7 @@ jobs:
           echo "::endgroup::"
 
       - name: Setup Dependencies Linux
-        if: runner.os == 'Linux'
+        if: runner.os == 'Linux' && !startsWith(matrix.shell, 'freebsd')
         run: |
           echo "::group::apt update"
           sudo apt-get update
@@ -363,22 +378,59 @@ jobs:
           echo "MSYS2_ROOT=${{ runner.temp }}/msys64" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           cat "${{ runner.temp }}/setup-msys2/msys2.CMD"
 
-      - name: Initialize Submodules
-        # libx265 has issues when using the recursive method of the first checkout action
-        # this is after `msys2/setup-msys2@v2` because `msys2` (default) shell is not available until then.
-        run: |
-          git submodule update --init --recursive
+      - name: Setup FreeBSD
+        if: startsWith(matrix.shell, 'freebsd')
+        uses: vmactions/freebsd-vm@v1.2.1
+        with:
+          arch: ${{ matrix.arch }}
+          prepare: |
+            pkg install -y \
+              devel/autoconf \
+              devel/automake \
+              devel/cmake \
+              devel/git \
+              devel/gmake \
+              devel/llvm${{ env.FREEBSD_CLANG_VERSION }} \
+              devel/nasm \
+              devel/ninja \
+              devel/pkgconf \
+              multimedia/libass \
+              multimedia/libv4l \
+              multimedia/libva \
+              multimedia/v4l_compat \
+              print/freetype2 \
+              security/gnutls \
+              shells/bash \
+              x11/libx11 \
+              x11/libxcb \
+              x11/libXfixes
+
+            # create symlink for shebang bash compatibility
+            ln -s /usr/local/bin/bash /bin/bash
+          release: ${{ matrix.bsd_release }}
+          sync: nfs
 
       - name: Setup ENV
         id: root
         run: |
+          set -e
+          cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
           echo "ROOT_PATH=$PWD" >> $GITHUB_ENV
 
+          MAKE_CMD="make"
+          if [ "${{ startsWith(matrix.shell, 'freebsd') }}" = true ]; then
+            # use gmake on FreeBSD instead of make
+            MAKE_CMD="gmake"
+          fi
+          echo "MAKE_CMD=${MAKE_CMD}" >> $GITHUB_ENV
+
       - name: Setup cross compilation
         id: cross
         if: matrix.target != ''
         run: |
-          TOOLCHAIN=${ROOT_PATH}/cmake/toolchains/${{ matrix.target }}.cmake
+          set -e
+          cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
+          TOOLCHAIN=${{ env.ROOT_PATH }}/cmake/toolchains/${{ matrix.target }}.cmake
 
           # fail if file does not exist
           if [ ! -f $TOOLCHAIN ]; then
@@ -394,33 +446,76 @@ jobs:
       - name: Get Processor Count
         id: processor_count
         run: |
-          if [[ ${{ runner.os }} == 'macOS' ]]; then
-            echo "PROCESSOR_COUNT=$(sysctl -n hw.ncpu)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          set -e
+          cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
+          if [ "${{ runner.os }}" = 'macOS' ]; then
+            PROCESSOR_COUNT=$(sysctl -n hw.ncpu)
           else
-            echo "PROCESSOR_COUNT=$(nproc)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+            PROCESSOR_COUNT=$(nproc)
           fi
+          echo "PROCESSOR_COUNT=${PROCESSOR_COUNT}" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+          echo "PROCESSOR_COUNT: $PROCESSOR_COUNT"
+
+      - name: Get x265 git history
+        run: |
+          set -e
+
+          # x265.pc will not be installed if their cmake cannot detect the latest tag
+          # SVT-AV1 cannot determine version if the git history is not available
+
+          for repo in "x265_git" "SVT-AV1"; do
+            cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE/third-party/FFmpeg/$repo
+            git config --global --add safe.directory $(pwd)
+            git fetch --tags --force origin
+          done
 
       - name: Configure
         run: |
+          set -e
+          cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
+
+          if [ "${{ startsWith(matrix.shell, 'freebsd') }}" = true ]; then
+            export CC=$(which clang${{ env.FREEBSD_CLANG_VERSION }})
+            export CXX=$(which clang++${{ env.FREEBSD_CLANG_VERSION }})
+
+            # make sure they exist
+            if [ ! -f "$CC" ]; then
+              echo "Compiler not found: $CC"
+              exit 1
+            fi
+            if [ ! -f "$CXX" ]; then
+              echo "Compiler not found: $CXX"
+              exit 1
+            fi
+          fi
+
           mkdir -p ./build/dist
           cmake \
             -B build \
             -S . \
             -G "${{ matrix.generator }}" \
-            -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=${CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE} \
-            -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${ROOT_PATH}/build/dist"
+            -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=${{ env.CMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE }} \
+            -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX="${{ env.ROOT_PATH }}/build/dist" \
+            -DPARALLEL_BUILDS=${{ steps.processor_count.outputs.PROCESSOR_COUNT || 1 }}
 
       - name: Build
         run: |
-          make -C build -j${{ steps.processor_count.outputs.PROCESSOR_COUNT }}
+          set -e
+          cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
+          ${{ env.MAKE_CMD }} -C build --jobs=${{ steps.processor_count.outputs.PROCESSOR_COUNT || 1 }}
 
       - name: Install
         run: |
-          make -C build install
+          set -e
+          cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
+          ${{ env.MAKE_CMD }} -C build install
 
       - name: Debug logs
         if: always()
         run: |
+          set -e
+          cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
+
           echo "::group::x264 config.log"
           cat ./third-party/FFmpeg/x264/config.log || true
           echo "::endgroup::"
@@ -432,20 +527,27 @@ jobs:
       - name: Debug build directory
         if: always()
         run: |
+          set -e
+          cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
           ls -R ./build
 
       - name: Debug build/dist directory
         if: always()
         run: |
+          set -e
+          cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
           ls -R ./build/dist
 
       - name: Cleanup
         run: |
+          set -e
+          cd $GITHUB_WORKSPACE
           rm -f -r ./build/dist/share
 
       - name: Upload Artifacts
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
         with:
+          if-no-files-found: error
           name: ${{ matrix.name }}
           path: ./build/dist
 
diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index b10cb61e9..2cedd8fd5 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -33,6 +33,10 @@ option(BUILD_FFMPEG_X265_PATCHES "Apply FFmpeg x265 patches" ON)
 include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/apply_git_patch.cmake)
 include(${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/cmake/unix_path.cmake)
 
+if(CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME STREQUAL "FreeBSD")
+    set(FREEBSD ON)
+endif()
+
 if(UNIX AND NOT APPLE)
     include(GNUInstallDirs)
 endif()
@@ -44,12 +48,13 @@ if(NOT DEFINED PARALLEL_BUILDS)
 else()
     set(N_PROC ${PARALLEL_BUILDS})
 endif()
-if(N EQUAL 0)
+if(N_PROC EQUAL 0)
     set(N_PROC 1)
-elseif(NOT N MATCHES "^[0-9]+$")
+elseif(NOT N_PROC MATCHES "^[0-9]+$")
     # if not a number, set it to 1
     set(N_PROC 1)
 endif()
+message(STATUS "parallel builds: ${N_PROC}")
 
 set(MSYS2_ROOT "C:/msys64")
 if(WIN32 AND DEFINED ENV{MSYS2_ROOT})
@@ -60,14 +65,22 @@ endif()
 if(NOT DEFINED BASH_EXECUTABLE)
     find_program(BASH_EXECUTABLE
             NAMES zsh bash
-            REQUIRED
-            HINTS "${MSYS2_ROOT}/usr/bin" /bin /usr/bin /usr/local/bin)
+            HINTS "${MSYS2_ROOT}/usr/bin" /bin /usr/bin /usr/local/bin
+            DOC "Bash shell executable"
+            REQUIRED)
     message(STATUS "Found bash: ${BASH_EXECUTABLE}")
 endif()
 
+if(FREEBSD)
+    set(MAKE_FIND_NAMES "gmake")  # We get invalid line types in nv-codec-headers Makefile if we use BSD make
+else()
+    set(MAKE_FIND_NAMES "mingw32-make;make;gmake")
+endif()
+
 find_program(MAKE_EXECUTABLE
-        NAMES mingw32-make make gmake
+        NAMES ${MAKE_FIND_NAMES}
         NAMES_PER_DIR
+        HINTS "${MSYS2_ROOT}/usr/bin" /bin /usr/bin /usr/local/bin
         DOC "GNU Make"
         REQUIRED)
 message(STATUS "Found make: ${MAKE_EXECUTABLE}")
@@ -169,6 +182,10 @@ add_custom_target(${CMAKE_PROJECT_NAME}
 # set architecture
 string(TOLOWER ${CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR} arch)
 
+message(STATUS "Detected system name: ${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME}")
+message(STATUS "Detected architecture: ${CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR}")
+message(STATUS "CI Matrix name should be: '${CMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME}-${CMAKE_SYSTEM_PROCESSOR}'")
+
 # set generated source path
 set(CMAKE_GENERATED_SRC_PATH ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/generated-src)
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4cc40186c..8f65c3adb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -64,6 +64,30 @@ git checkout HEAD -- .
 
 ### Dependencies
 
+#### FreeBSD
+
+```bash
+pkg install -y \
+  devel/autoconf \
+  devel/automake \
+  devel/cmake \
+  devel/git \
+  devel/gmake \
+  devel/nasm \
+  devel/ninja \
+  devel/pkgconf \
+  multimedia/libass \
+  multimedia/libv4l \
+  multimedia/libva \
+  multimedia/v4l_compat \
+  print/freetype2 \
+  security/gnutls \
+  shells/bash \
+  x11/libx11 \
+  x11/libxcb \
+  x11/libXfixes
+```
+
 #### Linux
 
 ```bash
@@ -205,6 +229,8 @@ Valid options are, 1, 2, and 3. The default is 1.
 
 ### Build
 
+ℹ️ On FreeBSD, use `gmake` instead of `make`.
+
 ```bash
 make -C build
 ```
diff --git a/cmake/ffmpeg/_main.cmake b/cmake/ffmpeg/_main.cmake
index 9c42f6044..cfce8ba0c 100644
--- a/cmake/ffmpeg/_main.cmake
+++ b/cmake/ffmpeg/_main.cmake
@@ -5,13 +5,25 @@ set(AVCODEC_GENERATED_SRC_PATH ${CMAKE_GENERATED_SRC_PATH}/FFmpeg/libavcodec)
 
 if(WIN32)
     set(BUILD_FFMPEG_VAAPI OFF)
+
+    # We must disable CUDA and NVENC on ARM64 until following issues is resolved
+    # https://github.com/FFmpeg/FFmpeg/blob/4e5523c98597a417eb43555933b1075d18ec5f8b/configure#L7443
+    if (${arch} STREQUAL "arm64")
+        set(BUILD_FFMPEG_NV_CODEC_HEADERS OFF)
+    endif()
 elseif(APPLE)
     set(BUILD_FFMPEG_AMF OFF)
     set(BUILD_FFMPEG_MF OFF)
     set(BUILD_FFMPEG_NV_CODEC_HEADERS OFF)
     set(BUILD_FFMPEG_VAAPI OFF)
+elseif(FREEBSD)
+    set(BUILD_FFMPEG_AMF OFF)
+    set(BUILD_FFMPEG_MF OFF)
+    if(${arch} STREQUAL "aarch64")
+        set(BUILD_FFMPEG_NV_CODEC_HEADERS OFF)
+    endif()
 elseif(UNIX)
-    # nothing to disable for Linux
+    set(BUILD_FFMPEG_MF OFF)
 endif()
 
 if(BUILD_FFMPEG_AMF)
diff --git a/cmake/ffmpeg/ffmpeg.cmake b/cmake/ffmpeg/ffmpeg.cmake
index f621394d6..efc303047 100644
--- a/cmake/ffmpeg/ffmpeg.cmake
+++ b/cmake/ffmpeg/ffmpeg.cmake
@@ -41,54 +41,83 @@ list(APPEND FFMPEG_EXTRA_CONFIGURE
         --enable-avcodec
         --enable-avutil
         --enable-bsfs  # ensure config.h will have CONFIG_CBS_ flags
-        --enable-encoder=libsvtav1
-        --enable-encoder=libx264,libx265
-        --enable-libsvtav1
-        --enable-libx264
-        --enable-libx265
         --enable-swscale
 )
 
-if(WIN32)
+if(BUILD_FFMPEG_AMF)
     list(APPEND FFMPEG_EXTRA_CONFIGURE
             --enable-amf
-            --enable-d3d11va
             --enable-encoder=h264_amf,hevc_amf,av1_amf
+    )
+endif()
+if(BUILD_FFMPEG_MF)
+    list(APPEND FFMPEG_EXTRA_CONFIGURE
             --enable-encoder=h264_mf,hevc_mf
-            --enable-encoder=h264_qsv,hevc_qsv,av1_qsv
-            --enable-libvpl
             --enable-mediafoundation
     )
-
-    # We must disable CUDA and NVENC until following issues is resolved
-    #
-    # https://github.com/FFmpeg/FFmpeg/blob/4e5523c98597a417eb43555933b1075d18ec5f8b/configure#L7443
-    if (${arch} STREQUAL "amd64" OR ${arch} STREQUAL "x86_64")
+endif()
+if(BUILD_FFMPEG_NV_CODEC_HEADERS)
+    list(APPEND FFMPEG_EXTRA_CONFIGURE
+            --enable-cuda
+            --enable-encoder=h264_nvenc,hevc_nvenc,av1_nvenc
+            --enable-ffnvcodec
+            --enable-nvenc
+    )
+    if(UNIX AND NOT APPLE AND NOT FREEBSD)
         list(APPEND FFMPEG_EXTRA_CONFIGURE
-                --enable-cuda
-                --enable-encoder=h264_nvenc,hevc_nvenc,av1_nvenc
-                --enable-ffnvcodec
-                --enable-nvenc
+                --enable-cuda_llvm
         )
     endif()
+endif()
+if(BUILD_FFMPEG_SVT_AV1)
+    list(APPEND FFMPEG_EXTRA_CONFIGURE
+            --enable-libsvtav1
+            --enable-encoder=libsvtav1
+    )
+endif()
+if(BUILD_FFMPEG_VAAPI)
+    list(APPEND FFMPEG_EXTRA_CONFIGURE
+            --enable-vaapi
+            --enable-encoder=h264_vaapi,hevc_vaapi,av1_vaapi
+    )
+endif()
+if(BUILD_FFMPEG_X264)
+    list(APPEND FFMPEG_EXTRA_CONFIGURE
+            --enable-libx264
+            --enable-encoder=libx264
+    )
+endif()
+if(BUILD_FFMPEG_X265)
+    list(APPEND FFMPEG_EXTRA_CONFIGURE
+            --enable-libx265
+            --enable-encoder=libx265
+    )
+endif()
+
+# OS specific options not defined by the above BUILD_FFMPEG_* options
+if(WIN32)
+    list(APPEND FFMPEG_EXTRA_CONFIGURE
+            --enable-d3d11va
+            --enable-encoder=h264_qsv,hevc_qsv,av1_qsv
+            --enable-libvpl
+    )
 elseif(APPLE)
     list(APPEND FFMPEG_EXTRA_CONFIGURE
             --enable-encoder=h264_videotoolbox,hevc_videotoolbox
             --enable-videotoolbox
     )
+elseif(FREEBSD)
+    # FFmpeg does not build with this encoder on aarch64 FreeBSD
+    if(${arch} STREQUAL "amd64")
+        list(APPEND FFMPEG_EXTRA_CONFIGURE
+                --enable-encoder=h264_v4l2m2m
+                --enable-v4l2_m2m
+        )
+    endif()
 elseif(UNIX)
     list(APPEND FFMPEG_EXTRA_CONFIGURE
-            --enable-amf
-            --enable-cuda
-            --enable-cuda_llvm
-            --enable-encoder=h264_amf,hevc_amf,av1_amf
-            --enable-encoder=h264_nvenc,hevc_nvenc,av1_nvenc
-            --enable-encoder=h264_vaapi,hevc_vaapi,av1_vaapi
             --enable-encoder=h264_v4l2m2m
-            --enable-ffnvcodec
-            --enable-nvenc
             --enable-v4l2_m2m
-            --enable-vaapi
     )
 endif()
 
@@ -116,7 +145,7 @@ add_custom_target(ffmpeg ALL
         COMMAND ${SHELL_CMD} "PKG_CONFIG_PATH='${PKG_CONFIG_PATH}' \
 ./configure \
 ${FFMPEG_EXTRA_CONFIGURE}"
-        COMMAND ${SHELL_CMD} "${MAKE_EXECUTABLE} -j${N_PROC}"
+        COMMAND ${SHELL_CMD} "${MAKE_EXECUTABLE} --jobs=${N_PROC}"
         COMMAND ${SHELL_CMD} "${MAKE_EXECUTABLE} install"
         WORKING_DIRECTORY ${WORKING_DIR}
         COMMENT "Target: FFmpeg"
diff --git a/cmake/ffmpeg/nv_codec_headers.cmake b/cmake/ffmpeg/nv_codec_headers.cmake
index 2e4920b99..c64b3f390 100644
--- a/cmake/ffmpeg/nv_codec_headers.cmake
+++ b/cmake/ffmpeg/nv_codec_headers.cmake
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ set(WORKING_DIR "${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/third-party/FFmpeg/nv-codec-headers
 UNIX_PATH(WORKING_DIR_UNIX ${WORKING_DIR})
 UNIX_PATH(DEST_DIR_UNIX ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR})
 add_custom_target(nv-codec-headers ALL
-        COMMAND ${SHELL_CMD} "${MAKE_EXECUTABLE} -j${N_PROC}"
+        COMMAND ${SHELL_CMD} "${MAKE_EXECUTABLE} --jobs=${N_PROC}"
         # this will install the headers to the CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR/usr/local
         COMMAND ${SHELL_CMD} "DESTDIR=${DEST_DIR_UNIX} ${MAKE_EXECUTABLE} install"
         WORKING_DIRECTORY ${WORKING_DIR}
diff --git a/cmake/ffmpeg/x264.cmake b/cmake/ffmpeg/x264.cmake
index 57f2ee770..4311a8df4 100644
--- a/cmake/ffmpeg/x264.cmake
+++ b/cmake/ffmpeg/x264.cmake
@@ -41,17 +41,26 @@ endif()
 # configure command will only take the first argument if not converted to string
 string(REPLACE ";" " " FFMPEG_X264_EXTRA_CONFIGURE "${FFMPEG_X264_EXTRA_CONFIGURE}")
 
+# Set compiler for x264 configure script
+set(X264_COMPILER_FLAGS "")
+if(CMAKE_C_COMPILER)
+    set(X264_COMPILER_FLAGS "CC=${CMAKE_C_COMPILER}")
+endif()
+if(CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER)
+    set(X264_COMPILER_FLAGS "${X264_COMPILER_FLAGS} CXX=${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER}")
+endif()
+
 # On Windows, the x264 submodule needs to have line endings converted to LF, see the README.md
 
 set(WORKING_DIR ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/third-party/FFmpeg/x264)
 UNIX_PATH(WORKING_DIR_UNIX ${WORKING_DIR})
 add_custom_target(x264 ALL
-        COMMAND ${SHELL_CMD} "./configure \
+        COMMAND ${SHELL_CMD} "${X264_COMPILER_FLAGS} ./configure \
 --prefix=${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR_UNIX}/x264 \
 --disable-cli \
 --enable-static \
 ${FFMPEG_X264_EXTRA_CONFIGURE}"
-        COMMAND ${SHELL_CMD} "${MAKE_EXECUTABLE} -j${N_PROC}"
+        COMMAND ${SHELL_CMD} "${MAKE_EXECUTABLE} --jobs=${N_PROC}"
         COMMAND ${SHELL_CMD} "${MAKE_EXECUTABLE} install"
         WORKING_DIRECTORY ${WORKING_DIR}
         COMMENT "Target: x264"
diff --git a/cmake/ffmpeg/x265.cmake b/cmake/ffmpeg/x265.cmake
index 8d676baa2..cf39578f5 100644
--- a/cmake/ffmpeg/x265.cmake
+++ b/cmake/ffmpeg/x265.cmake
@@ -34,4 +34,4 @@ if(ENABLE_HDR10_PLUS)
     add_dependencies(x265 hdr10plus-static)
 endif()
 
-# PKG_CONFIG_PATH alraedy set since this is installed directly to the prefix
+# PKG_CONFIG_PATH already set since this is installed directly to the prefix