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 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.
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Cite in Harvard Now →Cite a Documentary in Other Styles
Documentary in APADocumentary in MLADocumentary in ChicagoDocumentary in VancouverDocumentary in IEEEDocumentary in AMADocumentary in TurabianDocumentary in CSEDocumentary in BibTeXDocumentary in NatureDocumentary in ACSDocumentary in OSCOLADocumentary in BluebookDocumentary in AGLCDocumentary in ASADocumentary in APSADocumentary in AAADocumentary in NLMDocumentary in ACMDocumentary in APSDocumentary in AIPDocumentary in CellDocumentary in ScienceDocumentary in PLOSDocumentary in BMJDocumentary in LancetDocumentary in JAMADocumentary in Elsevier HarvardDocumentary in Springer
Cite Other Sources in Harvard
Website in HarvardBook in HarvardJournal Article in HarvardYouTube Video in HarvardPodcast in HarvardNewspaper Article in HarvardMagazine Article in HarvardBlog Post in HarvardWikipedia in HarvardPDF in HarvardInterview in HarvardSocial Media Post in HarvardGovernment Document in HarvardDissertation or Thesis in HarvardConference Paper in HarvardLecture or PowerPoint in HarvardWebinar in HarvardImage or Photograph in HarvardMovie or Film in HarvardTV Show in HarvardSong or Music in HarvardPoem in HarvardCourt Case in HarvardPatent in HarvardEncyclopedia Entry in HarvardDictionary Entry in HarvardDataset in HarvardSoftware or App in HarvardVideo Game in HarvardPress Release in HarvardReport in HarvardPreprint in HarvardBook Chapter in HarvardChatGPT in HarvardBible in HarvardTED Talk in HarvardEmail in HarvardReddit or Forum Post in HarvardMap in Harvard