How to Reference a Film in Text

By the time you get to college, you know that it is critical to cite your sources. Often, you must cite sources within the text; however, it can be tricky to cite non-textual sources such as films within your paper. The Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA) and Chicago Manual of Style all set guidelines for the proper citation of film sources. The exact form your in-text citations will take depends upon which set of guidelines you are following.

Things You'll Need

  • Modern Language Association (MLA) style manual
  • American Psychological Association (APA) style manual
  • Chicago Manual of Style
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Instructions

    • 1

      Italicize the titles of films you mention within the text if you are using MLA style. If the film is alphabetized according to a director or producer in your reference list, be sure to mention that person within the text. This will help the reader to find your reference list entry for the film with ease. For example:

      In Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain, the director used treated slides instead of computer-generated images.

      It is also permissible to list the title of the film in parentheses after your reference. For example:

      At least one film uses treated slides instead of computer-generated images (The Fountain).

    • 2

      List the name of the film and the year it was released in parentheses if you are following APA guidelines. The film and year of release should be separated by a comma. The name of the film should be italicized. For example:

      Darren Aronofsky used treated slides as an alternative to computer-generated images (The Fountain, 2001).

    • 3

      Do not use parenthetical citations if you are adhering to Chicago Manual of Style guidelines. Instead, place a number after your reference that corresponds to a footnote or endnote. Your footnote or endnote reference should be formatted as follows:

      Footnote Number. Title of Film in Italics, Format. Director. City of Production: Distributor, Year of Release.

      For example:

      17. The Fountain, DVD. Directed by Darren Aronofsky. Hollywood: Lionsgate Productions, 2001.

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