Ep 214: Laura Poitras on Cover-Up, documentary success and exposing the CIA

About this episode

Laura Poitras discusses her documentary COVER-UP and the art of exposing government corruption.

On today's Girls on Film we’re getting conspiratorial with COVER-UP - a BAFTA-nominated documentary following the career of investigative journalist Seymour Hirsch. He was an expert at exposing government corruption and scandal in the United States, and this documentary has exclusive access to him. Co-director Laura Poitras will be giving Anna the story behind the story of this thrilling film. Laura has been three times Oscar nominated for My Country, My Country, All The Beauty and The Bloodshed, and Citizenfour—for which she won. Alongside her co-director Mark Obenhaus, she's putting another gripping story onscreen here. We talk career inspirations, the art of the expose, and how being underestimated can be a woman's secret weapon. This episode is in partnership with Netflix. Sign up to the Girls On Film newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iEKaM-/ Or email girlsonfilmsocial@gmail.com to be signed up. Become a patron of Girls On Film on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/girlsonfilmpodcast Follow us on socials: www.instagram.com/girlsonfilm_podcast/ www.facebook.com/girlsonfilmpodcast www.twitter.com/GirlsOnFilm_Pod www.twitter.com/annasmithjourno Watch Girls On Film on the BFI’s…

People in this episode

Hosts: Anna Smith, Hedda Lornie Archbold

Guest: Laura Poitras

Topics covered

• documentary
• investigative journalism
• government corruption
• women in film

Keywords

• BAFTA-nominated
• Seymour Hirsch
• CIA
• Oscar-nominated

Sponsors

Netflix

Mentioned in this episode

Products: COVER-UP

Books & works: Cover-Up, Girls on Film, BAFTA, Oscar, My Country, My Country, All The Beauty and The Bloodshed, Citizenfour

Places: the United States

More episodes of Girls On Film

• Ep 220: The queer feminist horror hit of Cannes + talking gender & body image with Parno Mittra · May 27, 2026 · 49 min
• Ep 219: From Mexico to Cannes: a new film about Leonora Carrington + How to do PR at a film fest · May 8, 2026 · 37 min
• Ep 218: What does it take to make it in film? Tips and tales from Pippa Harris & Julie La’Bassiere · March 30, 2026 · 45 min
• Ep 217: International Women's Day special: inspiring female figureheads in the film industry · March 6, 2026 · 1h 11m
• Ep 216: Celebrating Creative Brilliance: Girls On Film Awards 2026 · February 16, 2026 · 1h 13m
• Ep 215: The Perfect Neighbor exclusive: director Geeta Gandbhir talks about her award-winning doc · February 9, 2026 · 22 min