When citing documentaries in MLA format, it's essential to include the title of the documentary, the director, the production company, and the release year. The MLA format for citing documentaries is as follows:
MLA Format for Documentaries
To cite a documentary in MLA format, you need to include the following elements:
- Director’s Last Name, First Name, director. Title of Documentary, Production Company, Release Year.
- If the documentary has a narrator, you can include their name after the title: Director’s Last Name, First Name, director. Title of Documentary, narrated by Narrator’s First Name Last Name, Production Company, Release Year.
- If the documentary is part of a series, you can include the series title and the episode number: Director’s Last Name, First Name, director. Title of Documentary, episode Episode Number, Series Title, Production Company, Release Year.
Example of MLA Format for Documentaries
Here’s an example of how to cite a documentary in MLA format:
Moore, Michael, director. Fahrenheit 9⁄11, Lions Gate Films, 2004.
Guggenheim, Davis, director. An Inconvenient Truth, narrated by Al Gore, Paramount Classics, 2006.
Citing Online Documentaries
If you’re citing a documentary that you accessed online, you need to include the URL and the date of access:
Director’s Last Name, First Name, director. Title of Documentary, Production Company, Release Year. Title of Website, URL, Accessed Day Month Year.
Example of MLA Format for Online Documentaries
Here’s an example of how to cite an online documentary in MLA format:
Moore, Michael, director. Fahrenheit 9⁄11, Lions Gate Films, 2004. YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6WUn4JATSA, Accessed 10 Feb 2023.
| Element | Example |
|---|---|
| Director's Name | Michael Moore |
| Title of Documentary | Fahrenheit 9/11 |
| Production Company | Lions Gate Films |
| Release Year | 2004 |
| URL (for online documentaries) | www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6WUn4JATSA |
| Date of Access (for online documentaries) | 10 Feb 2023 |
What is the MLA format for citing documentaries?
+The MLA format for citing documentaries includes the director’s name, the title of the documentary, the production company, and the release year. If the documentary is accessed online, the URL and date of access are also included.
How do I cite a documentary with a narrator in MLA format?
+To cite a documentary with a narrator in MLA format, include the narrator’s name after the title of the documentary, like this: Director’s Last Name, First Name, director. Title of Documentary, narrated by Narrator’s First Name Last Name, Production Company, Release Year.
What information do I need to include when citing an online documentary in MLA format?
+When citing an online documentary in MLA format, you need to include the director’s name, the title of the documentary, the production company, the release year, the URL, and the date of access.
