How to cite films, television series, and videos in APA 7
Learn how to create the reference and in-text citations for films, television series, episodes, talks, and online videos.
Updated July 29, 2026
By Andrés Rivas
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References and in-text citations for audiovisual works
This guide explains how to create the APA reference and in-text citations for films, videos, television series, episodes, TED Talks, and recorded webinars.
The person in the author position depends on the work. A film normally uses the director. A television series uses the executive producers. An episode may use its writer and director. For an online video, use the person or account that uploaded it.
Film structure
Director, A. A. (Director). (Year). Title of film [Film]. Production Company.
The bracketed description identifies the medium. You do not need to state whether you watched a film in a theater, on disc, or through streaming unless the specific version matters to your discussion.
Film example
The names and details are illustrative.
Reference
Restrepo, L. M. (Director). (2023). The house of questions [Film]. Horizon Films.
The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024).
(Restrepo, 2023)
The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024).
Restrepo (2023)
Series, episodes, and online videos
For a complete television series, credit the executive producers and use the range of years when it aired. For an episode, include its title, the series containing it, and the primary creators.
For a TED Talk on the TED website, place the speaker in the author position. When the same talk is viewed on YouTube, use the account owner as author so the reference leads to the version used.
If you reproduce a video's exact words, include a timestamp in the direct quotation to show where the passage begins.
An unrecorded webinar is not retrievable and is treated as a personal communication rather than a reference.
More audiovisual examples
All names, titles, and addresses are illustrative.
Educational video
Reference
Moreno, A. C. (Director). (2022). How to observe a classroom [Video]. Center for Teacher Education. https://example.com/videos/observe-classroom
The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Moreno, 2022)
The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Moreno (2022)
Television series
Reference
Rivas, M. J., & Cárdenas, P. L. (Executive Producers). (2020–2024). Open classrooms [TV series]. Horizon Studio.
The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Rivas & Cárdenas, 2020–2024)
The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Rivas and Cárdenas (2020–2024)
Television series episode
Reference
León, S. (Writer & Director). (2023, October 12). The last question (Season 2, Episode 6) [TV series episode]. In M. J. Rivas & P. L. Cárdenas (Executive Producers), Open classrooms. Horizon Studio.
The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (León, 2023)
The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). León (2023)
TED Talk
Reference
Patiño, L. M. (2024, February). What happens when we learn to ask questions [Video]. TED Conferences. https://example.com/ted/questions
The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Patiño, 2024)
The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Patiño (2024)
Recorded webinar
Reference
Duarte, C. P. (2024). How to prepare a literature search [Webinar]. Institute for Open Research. https://example.com/webinars/search
The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Duarte, 2024)
The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Duarte (2024)
YouTube video
Reference
Classroom in Five Minutes. (2024, May 20). Three steps for recognizing a reliable source [Video]. YouTube. https://example.com/youtube/sources
The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (Classroom in Five Minutes, 2024)
The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). Classroom in Five Minutes (2024)
Video on another streaming platform
Reference
University Archive. (2023, November 8). A conversation with first-generation students [Video]. Vimeo. https://example.com/vimeo/conversation
The source is identified in parentheses, normally with the author and year: (Perez, 2024). (University Archive, 2023)
The author is part of the sentence and the year appears in parentheses: Perez (2024). University Archive (2023)
How to check the reference
- You selected the primary creator for the medium.
- You added the creator's role in parentheses when required.
- You italicized the title and described the medium in brackets.
- You identified the production company, platform, or site that locates the work.
- The citation uses the surname or account name and year.
See all APA reference types.
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