How to Cite a Documentary in Turabian (9th edition)
Learn how to cite documentary films and non-fiction films in Turabian format (9th edition). This guide includes the reference list format, in-text citation examples, and key formatting rules.
Turabian Bibliography Format
Here is the standard Turabian format for citing a documentary in your bibliography:
Director Last Name, First Name, dir. Title of Documentary. Place: Distributor, Year. Documentary.
Turabian Example for a Documentary
A complete Turabian reference for a documentary, formatted by the official Turabian CSL style definition — the same engine that powers the generator on this site:
Ferreira, Bruno, dir. 2021. Paper Trails. Documentary. Northlight Films. 1 hr., 34 min.
Matching in-text citation: (Ferreira 2021)
Turabian In-Text Citation
Use one of these formats when referencing this source within your paper:
Parenthetical
(Director Year)
Narrative
Director (Year) investigates...
Key Turabian Formatting Rules
- Italicize the documentary title and name the director with dir.
- Include place, distributor, year, and the medium (Documentary).
- Name the streaming platform if watched online.
- Follows Chicago Notes-Bibliography format.
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 Turabian (9th edition) 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 bibliography: Include the full formatted citation at the end of your paper.
- Double-check formatting: Verify italics, punctuation, capitalization, and hanging indents match Turabian requirements.
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