Techniques for high-quality, segmented video encoding are described. As one example, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a video file, splitting the video file into a plurality of chunks comprising a first chunk of the video file and a second chunk of the video file that is later in video order than the first chunk, encoding the first chunk into a first encoded chunk, determining, separately from the encoding of the first chunk, a rate control state element for a section of the video file immediately before the second chunk in video order, encoding, separately from the encoding of the first chunk, the second chunk into a second encoded chunk using the rate control state element, and assembling the first encoded chunk and the second encoded chunk together to form an encoded video file.