diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d73b1c6..a2fd875 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -118,6 +118,17 @@ python demo.py --model_path /path/to/checkpoint.pt \
     --image_folder /path/to/images/
 ```
 
+You can also load a checkpoint directly from Hugging Face. The checkpoint is
+downloaded once and reused from the local Hugging Face cache on later runs.
+
+```bash
+python demo.py -hf robbyant/lingbot-map \
+    --image_folder /path/to/images/
+```
+
+If a repository contains multiple checkpoint files, pass `--hf_file <filename>`
+to select the one to load.
+
 ### Streaming Inference from Video
 
 ```bash
diff --git a/demo.py b/demo.py
index a8c8636..5552b9e 100644
--- a/demo.py
+++ b/demo.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 """
 
 import argparse
+import fnmatch
 import glob
 import os
 import time
@@ -104,6 +105,81 @@ def load_images(image_folder=None, video_path=None, fps=10, image_ext=".jpg,.png
 # Model loading
 # =============================================================================
 
+_CHECKPOINT_PATTERNS = (
+    "*.pt",
+    "*.pth",
+    "*.bin",
+    "*.safetensors",
+)
+
+
+def _is_checkpoint_file(path):
+    return any(fnmatch.fnmatch(os.path.basename(path), pattern) for pattern in _CHECKPOINT_PATTERNS)
+
+
+def _choose_hf_checkpoint(repo_id, files, requested_file=None):
+    candidates = [path for path in files if _is_checkpoint_file(path)]
+    if requested_file is not None:
+        if requested_file in files:
+            return requested_file
+        matches = [path for path in candidates if os.path.basename(path) == requested_file]
+        if len(matches) == 1:
+            return matches[0]
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Could not find checkpoint file '{requested_file}' in {repo_id}. "
+            f"Available checkpoints: {', '.join(candidates) or '(none)'}"
+        )
+
+    if len(candidates) == 1:
+        return candidates[0]
+
+    repo_name = repo_id.rstrip("/").split("/")[-1]
+    preferred_names = (
+        f"{repo_name}.pt",
+        f"{repo_name}.pth",
+        "model.pt",
+        "model.pth",
+        "checkpoint.pt",
+        "checkpoint.pth",
+        "pytorch_model.bin",
+        "model.safetensors",
+    )
+    for name in preferred_names:
+        matches = [path for path in candidates if os.path.basename(path) == name]
+        if len(matches) == 1:
+            return matches[0]
+
+    raise ValueError(
+        f"Found {len(candidates)} checkpoint files in {repo_id}; pass --hf_file "
+        f"to choose one. Available checkpoints: {', '.join(candidates) or '(none)'}"
+    )
+
+
+def resolve_model_path(args):
+    if args.model_path is not None:
+        return args.model_path
+
+    from huggingface_hub import HfApi, hf_hub_download
+
+    print(f"Resolving Hugging Face model: {args.hf}")
+    api = HfApi()
+    files = api.list_repo_files(
+        repo_id=args.hf,
+        repo_type="model",
+        revision=args.hf_revision,
+    )
+    filename = _choose_hf_checkpoint(args.hf, files, requested_file=args.hf_file)
+    path = hf_hub_download(
+        repo_id=args.hf,
+        filename=filename,
+        repo_type="model",
+        revision=args.hf_revision,
+        cache_dir=args.hf_cache_dir,
+    )
+    print(f"Using cached Hugging Face checkpoint: {path}")
+    return path
+
+
 def load_model(args, device):
     """Load GCTStream model from checkpoint."""
     if getattr(args, "mode", "streaming") == "windowed":
@@ -127,7 +203,11 @@ def load_model(args, device):
 
     if args.model_path:
         print(f"Loading checkpoint: {args.model_path}")
-        ckpt = torch.load(args.model_path, map_location=device, weights_only=False)
+        if args.model_path.endswith(".safetensors"):
+            from safetensors.torch import load_file
+            ckpt = load_file(args.model_path, device="cpu")
+        else:
+            ckpt = torch.load(args.model_path, map_location=device, weights_only=False)
         state_dict = ckpt.get("model", ckpt)
         missing, unexpected = model.load_state_dict(state_dict, strict=False)
         if missing:
@@ -242,7 +322,16 @@ def main():
     parser.add_argument("--stride", type=int, default=1)
 
     # Model
-    parser.add_argument("--model_path", type=str, required=True)
+    parser.add_argument("--model_path", type=str, default=None,
+                        help="Local checkpoint path. Use this or -hf/--hf.")
+    parser.add_argument("-hf", "--hf", type=str, default=None,
+                        help="Hugging Face model repo id, for example robbyant/lingbot-map")
+    parser.add_argument("--hf_file", type=str, default=None,
+                        help="Checkpoint filename inside the Hugging Face repo if there are multiple")
+    parser.add_argument("--hf_revision", type=str, default=None,
+                        help="Optional Hugging Face branch, tag, or commit")
+    parser.add_argument("--hf_cache_dir", type=str, default=None,
+                        help="Optional Hugging Face cache directory")
     parser.add_argument("--image_size", type=int, default=518)
     parser.add_argument("--patch_size", type=int, default=14)
 
@@ -294,8 +383,15 @@ def main():
     args = parser.parse_args()
     assert args.image_folder or args.video_path, \
         "Provide --image_folder or --video_path"
+    model_source_count = sum([
+        args.model_path is not None,
+        args.hf is not None,
+    ])
+    assert model_source_count == 1, \
+        "Provide exactly one model source: --model_path or -hf/--hf"
 
     device = torch.device("cuda" if torch.cuda.is_available() else "cpu")
+    args.model_path = resolve_model_path(args)
 
     # ── Load images & model ──────────────────────────────────────────────────
     t0 = time.time()