Following APA video citation examples in your research paper helps you add visual elements for your readers. Films, movies, presentations and instructional videos are available online and on DVDs or Blu-ray discs. Popular movie themes deal with the difficulties people with psychiatric disorders, addictions or physical disabilities struggle with every day. If you’re writing a paper on addiction, reviewing a video on a mother losing her children through drug addiction adds a powerful, personal touch to your research argument.
APA Basic Format
The basic format for citing a video source in your APA research article is as follows:
Producer, A. (Producer). (Year). Title of video: Subtitle [Format]. Available from (or Retrieved from)
Format – In-Text Quotation for Video
(Screen name, year, time of quoted material within video)
Format – In-Text Paraphrase
(Screen name, year)
Example Citation for Video
Movies English & Arabic. (Producer). (2019). The upside [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/T04PnAOuEWs
In-Text Quotation
(Movies English & Arabic, 2019, 12:01)
In-Text Paraphrase
(Movies English & Arabic, 2019)
Video Documentary Citation Format
Follow the examples below for how you should format a citation when referencing a video documentary.
Example 1 – Citation for Video Documentary
Klean Media Network. (Producer). (2017). Coming KLEAN: Stories of overcoming addiction [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/bfrJiRFvGOU
Example 1 – In-Text Quotation
(Klean, 2017, 14:04)
Example 1 – In-Text Paraphrase
(Klean, 2017)
Example 2 – Citation for Video Documentary
ShaneReinert. (Producer). (2016). Addiction: Christopher Hodges’s story [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/fL_EA0mC2q4
Example 2 – In-Text Quotation
(ShaneReinert, 2016, 9:43)
Example 2 – In-Text Paraphrase
(ShaneReinert, 2016)
Videos on DVD Citation Format
Citing a video you watched on DVD follows a similar format as the above examples.
Producer, A. (Producer). (Year). Title of video: Subtitle [DVD]. Available from
Example 1 – Citation for Video on DVD
Amen, D.G. (Producer). (2008). Change your brain, change your life [DVD]. Available from http://www.mindperk.com/products/change-your-brain-change-your-life-dvd/
Example 1 – In-Text Quotation
(Amen, 2008, 13:45)
Example 1 – In-Text Paraphrase
(Amen, 2008)
Example 2 – Citation for Video on DVD
Anfinson, S. (Producer). (2017). Next door neighbors: Belonging [DVD]. Available from https://shop.pbs.org/next-door-neighbors-belonging-dvd/product/NNBL401
Example 2 – In-Text Quotation
(Anfinson, 2017, 23:15)
Example 2 – In-Text Paraphrase
(Anfinson, 2017)
Video Short Films
Short films can also be a great source for your research paper. Refer to these examples for how to cite them.
Example 1 – Citation for Video Short Film
Agin, Nathan. (Producer). (2018). Dear depressed me: Mental health short film [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/RVPHX6Ie-9Q
Example 1 – In-Text Quotation
(Agin, 2018, 5:42)
Example 1 – In-Text Paraphrase
(Agin, 2018)
Example 2 – Citation for Video Short Film
Melmulc Films. (Producer). (2015). Silent: Mental health short film [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/-6SwqSiBmX8
Example 2 – In-Text Quotation
(Melmulc, 2015, 2:10)
Example 2 – In-Text Paraphrase
(Melmulc, 2015)
Video Blog Post
Follow this format for citing a video blog post, like what you might find on YouTube. Place the screen name in the author section, if needed.
Author, A. (Year, Month Day). Title of video: Subtitle of video [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.xxxxxx
Example 1 Citation for Video Blog Post
Ashley Nichole. (2017, May 21). How to vlog: How to be a vlogger [Video File]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/0aWvkw8Wqps
Example 1 – In-Text Quotation
(Ashley Nichole, 2017, 3:21)
Example 1 – In-Text Paraphrase
(Ashley Nichole, 2017)
Example 2 – Citation for Video Blog Post
Psych2Go. (2015, July 5). How to help someone with depression [Video File]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/0IDZ3AChlcM
Example 2 – In-Text Quotation
(Psych2Go, 2015, 4:23)
Example 2 – In-Text Paraphrase
(Psych2Go, 2015)
- Use the screen name for online videos.
- Use the date uploaded by the user.
- Include the URL, if available.
- Indicate the format type.
- Cite the time code, if using an exact quote.