How do I cite a documentary in Harvard?

To cite a documentary in Harvard (Cite Them Right), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.

What is the Harvard format for a documentary citation?

The Harvard format for a documentary is: Director, A.A. (dir.) (Year) Title of documentary [Documentary film]. Place: Distributor.

What does the in-text citation look like for a documentary in Harvard?

In Harvard, the in-text citation for the example above is (Director, Year)

How to Cite a Documentary in Harvard (Cite Them Right)

Learn how to cite documentary films and non-fiction films in Harvard format (Cite Them Right). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.

Harvard Reference List Format

Here is the standard Harvard format for citing a documentary in your reference list:

Director, A.A. (dir.) (Year) Title of documentary [Documentary film]. Place: Distributor.

Harvard Example for a Documentary

A complete Harvard reference for a documentary, formatted by the official Harvard CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:

Paper trails (2021). Northlight Films.

Matching in-text citation: (Paper trails, 2021)

Harvard In-Text Citation

Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:

Parenthetical

(Director, Year)

Narrative

Director (Year) presents...

Key Harvard Formatting Rules

Use the director as author with the (dir.) label and give the year.
Italicize the title and add the [Documentary film] descriptor.
Include the place of distribution and the distributor.
Add the streaming platform and URL if accessed online.

Step-by-Step Guide

Gather source information: Collect the author name, title, publication date, and URL or DOI for your documentary.
Format the reference: Arrange the elements following the Harvard (Cite Them Right) template shown above.
Create the in-text citation: Add a parenthetical or narrative citation in your paper where you reference this source.
Add to your reference list: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Harvard requirements.

Evidence and review notes

Worked examples are generated by citeproc from the published CSL definition, not written by a language model. Editorial guidance and sources in this section were reviewed on 2026-08-14.

CSL style record: harvard.csl

Editorial sources

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I cite a documentary in Harvard?: To cite a documentary in Harvard (Cite Them Right), include the author, title, date, and source location. Use our free citation generator for automatic formatting.
What is the Harvard format for a documentary citation?: The Harvard format for a documentary is: Director, A.A. (dir.) (Year) Title of documentary [Documentary film]. Place: Distributor.
What does the in-text citation look like for a documentary in Harvard?: In Harvard, the in-text citation for the example above is (Director, Year)