MLA Videos & Films Citations

    Complete guide to citing YouTube videos, films, documentaries, streaming content, and other video sources in MLA format

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    Published: September 15, 2025
    By Paper Hero Team

    Video & Film Citation Basics

    Video and film citations vary depending on the format and platform. Include director, title, distributor or platform, release date, and URL for online videos. For films, focus on the most relevant contributor (director, performer, etc.).

    Video & Film Citation Template
    Essential

    Creator. "Title." Platform/Distributor, Date, URL.

    Example: Johnson, Sarah. "Effective Online Teaching Strategies." YouTube, 15 Mar. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABC123.

    YouTube Videos

    Educational YouTube Videos

    For YouTube videos, include the creator's name, video title in quotation marks, "YouTube" in italics, upload date, and URL.

    Format:

    Creator. "Video Title." YouTube, Date, URL.

    Example:

    Martinez, Carlos. "10 Tips for Remote Learning Success." YouTube, 8 Apr. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYZ789abc.

    Channel vs. Individual Creator

    When the channel name is clearly an organization or brand rather than an individual, use the channel name as the author.

    TED-Ed. "How Does Online Learning Actually Work?" YouTube, 22 Feb. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEF456ghi.

    Khan Academy. "Introduction to Algebra: Variables and Expressions." YouTube, 5 Jan. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHI789jkl.

    YouTube Lectures or Webinars

    For academic lectures or professional webinars posted on YouTube, include additional context when helpful.

    Chen, David. "Digital Pedagogy in Higher Education." Lecture at Stanford University. YouTube, 12 Mar. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKL012mno.

    Streaming Platform Content

    Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime

    For content on streaming platforms, include the director or key contributor, title, production company, release year, and platform name.

    Format:

    Director. Title. Production Company, Year. Platform.

    Example:

    Rodriguez, Ana, director. The Future of Education. Educational Films Inc., 2024. Netflix.

    Documentary Films

    For documentaries, emphasize the director and include the production company and distributor.

    Wilson, Sarah, director. Digital Natives: Learning in the 21st Century. Independent Documentary Films, 2024. Hulu.

    TV Episodes

    For specific TV episodes, include the episode title in quotation marks and the series title in italics.

    "The Evolution of Online Learning." Education Today, season 3, episode 12, Educational Broadcasting, 2024. Amazon Prime.

    Traditional Films

    Theatrical Films

    For traditional films, emphasize the most relevant contributor based on your analysis. This could be the director, a specific actor, or the screenwriter.

    Director Focus:

    Thompson, Carol, director. Teaching Through Crisis. Educational Studios, 2024.

    Actor Focus:

    Foster, Jennifer, performer. Teaching Through Crisis. Directed by Carol Thompson, Educational Studios, 2024.

    Film Versions

    When multiple versions of a film exist, specify which version you viewed.

    Anderson, Mark, director. School Days. Director's cut, Independent Films, 2024.

    Educational and Training Videos

    Instructional Videos

    For instructional or training videos, include the creator, title, production organization, and access information.

    Kim, Jennifer. "Classroom Management Techniques for New Teachers." Professional Development Institute, 2024, www.pdi.edu/training/classroom-management.

    Webinar Recordings

    For recorded webinars, include the presenter, title, hosting organization, date, and access URL.

    Davis, Lisa. "Technology Integration in K-12 Education." Webinar, National Education Association, 25 Jan. 2024, www.nea.org/webinars/tech-integration.

    Conference Presentations

    For recorded conference presentations, include the presenter, title, conference name, date, and access information.

    Brown, Michael. "AI in Educational Assessment." Presentation at International Education Technology Conference, 15 Mar. 2024, www.ietc.org/presentations/ai-assessment.

    Time Stamps and Specific Moments

    Citing Specific Time Ranges

    When citing a specific moment or segment in a video, include the time stamp after the URL or at the end of the citation.

    Garcia, Elena. "Advanced Teaching Strategies." YouTube, 10 Feb. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNO345pqr, 3:45-7:20.

    Key Moments in Long Videos

    For longer videos, specify the relevant section to help readers locate the information.

    Peterson, Laura. "Complete Guide to Online Teaching." YouTube, 5 Apr. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQR678stu. Discussion of assessment strategies begins at 15:30.

    In-Text Citations for Videos

    Basic In-Text Citations

    Use the creator's last name or the title (if no creator) for in-text citations. Include time stamps for specific moments when relevant.

    Effective teaching strategies include active engagement techniques (Martinez).

    As demonstrated in the video, "student participation increases significantly with interactive elements" (Martinez 5:20).

    Title-Based Citations

    When no individual creator is identified, use a shortened version of the title.

    The video demonstrates various engagement techniques ("10 Tips").

    Research shows that "interactive learning improves retention by 40%" ("10 Tips" 3:15).

    Multiple Videos by Same Creator

    When citing multiple videos by the same creator, include part of the title to distinguish.

    Basic techniques were covered first (Chen, "Introduction").

    Advanced strategies were discussed later (Chen, "Advanced Methods").

    Video Citation Examples

    Complete Video & Film Examples

    YouTube Educational Video:

    Taylor, Amanda. "Creating Engaging Virtual Classrooms." YouTube, 18 Mar. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=STU901vwx.

    Netflix Documentary:

    Wong, Lisa, director. Digital Revolution in Education. Future Learning Productions, 2024. Netflix.

    Webinar Recording:

    Anderson, Kevin. "Implementing Blended Learning Models." Webinar, Educational Leadership Institute, 12 Feb. 2024, www.eli.org/webinars/blended-learning.

    Conference Presentation:

    Foster, Jennifer. "AI Tools for Personalized Learning." Presentation at EdTech Summit 2024, 28 Jan. 2024, www.edtechsummit.org/presentations/ai-personalized-learning.

    TV Episode:

    "Innovation in Rural Schools." Education Frontiers, season 2, episode 8, Public Broadcasting, 2024. Hulu.

    Common Video Citation Mistakes

    Avoid These Errors

    ❌ Wrong:

    Sarah Johnson. Online Teaching Strategies. YouTube. March 15, 2024.

    ✅ Correct:

    Johnson, Sarah. "Online Teaching Strategies." YouTube, 15 Mar. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABC123.

    Use quotation marks for video titles; italicize platform; include URL

    ❌ Wrong:

    The Future of Education. Directed by Ana Rodriguez. 2024. Netflix.

    ✅ Correct:

    Rodriguez, Ana, director. The Future of Education. Educational Films Inc., 2024. Netflix.

    Start with director's name; italicize film title; include production company

    ❌ Wrong:

    Carlos Martinez. "Teaching Tips." YouTube video. April 8, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYZ789.

    ✅ Correct:

    Martinez, Carlos. "Teaching Tips." YouTube, 8 Apr. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYZ789.

    Don't add "video" after title; remove "https://"; use MLA date format

    ❌ Wrong:

    TED-Ed. How Does Learning Work. YouTube. Feb 22, 2024.

    ✅ Correct:

    TED-Ed. "How Does Learning Work?" YouTube, 22 Feb. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEF456.

    Put video title in quotation marks; include question mark; add URL