diff --git a/css/tailwind.source.css b/css/tailwind.source.css
index a8b1c781..42327500 100644
--- a/css/tailwind.source.css
+++ b/css/tailwind.source.css
@@ -6102,43 +6102,75 @@
 
 /* Embed & Video Modal Fixes */
 @layer components {
-  /* ensure the video fills the stage and doesn't show a black strip */
-  #embedVideo,
+  /* Force the video stage to let the video fully fill it and prevent 80vh constraints */
+  .video-modal__stage,
   .video-modal__video,
-  .video-modal__video > .video-modal__media,
-  .video-modal__video video#modalVideo,
-  .video-modal__video .video-modal__media {
-    display: block;
+  .video-modal__panel {
+    /* allow child to fill: do not let other rules limit height */
+    max-height: none !important;
+    height: 100% !important;
+    min-height: 0 !important;
+    padding: 0 !important;
+    margin: 0 !important;
+    display: flex !important;
+    align-items: stretch !important;     /* allows the video to stretch vertically */
+    justify-content: center !important;
+  }
+
+  /* Prevent any earlier max-height on modal container from clashing */
+  .bv-modal__panel[role="dialog"],
+  .bv-modal__panel {
+    max-height: none !important;
+  }
+
+  /* Definitive video rules */
+  #modalVideo,
+  .video-modal__media {
+    display: block !important;
     width: 100% !important;
     height: 100% !important;
-    max-width: 100%;
-    max-height: 100%;
-    object-fit: cover;
-    object-position: center center;
+    max-width: 100% !important;
+    max-height: 100% !important;   /* ensure no earlier max-height causes clipping */
+    object-fit: cover !important;   /* or contain if you prefer letterbox */
+    object-position: center center !important;
     background: transparent !important;
-    padding: 0;
-    margin: 0;
-    box-sizing: border-box;
+    padding: 0 !important;
+    margin: 0 !important;
+    box-sizing: border-box !important;
   }
 
-  /* make sure the stage wrapper doesn’t add bottom padding/space */
-  .video-modal__stage,
-  .video-modal__video {
-    padding: 0;
-    margin: 0;
-    display: flex;
-    align-items: stretch;
-    justify-content: center;
+  /* permanent class to force fill */
+  .video-modal__media--fill {
+    width: 100% !important;
+    height: 100% !important;
+    max-width: 100% !important;
+    max-height: 100% !important;
+    object-position: center center !important;
+    background: transparent !important;
   }
 
+  .video-modal__stage {
+    position: relative;           /* ensure ambient is absolutely positioned relative to stage */
+    overflow: hidden;             /* clip any bleed visually; prevents layout expansion */
+  }
+
+  .video-modal__ambient {
+    position: absolute;
+    inset: calc(var(--video-modal-ambient-bleed) * -1);
+    pointer-events: none;         /* ensure it never captures pointer events */
+    z-index: 0;                   /* behind content */
+    will-change: transform, opacity;
+  }
+
+  /* ensure video is above ambient */
+  .video-modal__video { position: relative; z-index: 1; }
+
   /* if there is an ambient canvas or overlay, ensure it doesn't change layout */
-  .video-modal__ambient,
   .video-modal__ambient-canvas {
-    position: absolute;
-    inset: 0;
+    position: relative;
     width: 100%;
     height: 100%;
-    pointer-events: none;
+    display: block;
   }
 
   /* Logo accent wiring */
diff --git a/js/ui/components/VideoModal.js b/js/ui/components/VideoModal.js
index 2309f8b7..e0dafdbe 100644
--- a/js/ui/components/VideoModal.js
+++ b/js/ui/components/VideoModal.js
@@ -390,6 +390,81 @@ export class VideoModal {
     ) {
       this.modalVideo = videoElement;
       this.bindVideoEvents();
+
+      try {
+        if (this.modalVideo) {
+          // give the element the fill class so CSS can control layout
+          this.modalVideo.classList.add("video-modal__media--fill");
+
+          // ensure the stage/wrapper allow stretching (safety)
+          const videoWrap =
+            this.playerModal?.querySelector(".video-modal__video") ||
+            this.document.querySelector(".video-modal__video");
+
+          if (videoWrap) {
+            videoWrap.style.display = "flex";
+            videoWrap.style.alignItems = "stretch";
+            videoWrap.style.justifyContent = "center";
+            videoWrap.style.padding = "0";
+          }
+
+          // choose object-fit dynamically after metadata loads so we can inspect intrinsic size:
+          const decideObjectFit = () => {
+            try {
+              const vw =
+                this.modalVideo.videoWidth ||
+                this.modalVideo.naturalWidth ||
+                this.modalVideo.clientWidth;
+              const vh =
+                this.modalVideo.videoHeight ||
+                this.modalVideo.naturalHeight ||
+                this.modalVideo.clientHeight;
+              const wrap = this.modalVideo.parentElement;
+              const cw = wrap ? wrap.clientWidth : this.modalVideo.clientWidth;
+              const ch = wrap ? wrap.clientHeight : this.modalVideo.clientHeight;
+
+              // If we can't compute, default to cover
+              if (!vw || !vh || !cw || !ch) {
+                this.modalVideo.style.objectFit = "cover";
+                return;
+              }
+
+              const videoRatio = vw / vh;
+              const containerRatio = cw / ch;
+              const diff = Math.abs(containerRatio - videoRatio);
+
+              // if aspect ratios are close, prefer contain to avoid cropping small edges,
+              // otherwise use cover to avoid large letterbox bars
+              const THRESHOLD = 0.12; // tweakable
+              this.modalVideo.style.objectFit =
+                diff > THRESHOLD ? "cover" : "contain";
+            } catch (e) {
+              this.modalVideo.style.objectFit = "cover";
+            }
+          };
+
+          if (this.modalVideo.readyState >= 1) {
+            // metadata already available
+            decideObjectFit();
+          } else {
+            const onMeta = () => {
+              decideObjectFit();
+              this.modalVideo.removeEventListener("loadedmetadata", onMeta);
+            };
+            this.modalVideo.addEventListener("loadedmetadata", onMeta);
+          }
+
+          // always ensure background transparent
+          this.modalVideo.style.background = "transparent";
+          this.modalVideo.style.objectPosition = "center center";
+        }
+      } catch (err) {
+        // swallow, but log for diagnostics
+        this.logger?.log?.(
+          "[VideoModal] setVideoElement style enforcement failed",
+          err
+        );
+      }
     } else {
       this.modalVideo = null;
     }