A political thriller that portrays the explosive career of American reporter Seymour Hersh. With exclusive access to his notes, it captures the power of investigative journalism.
‘'Cover-Up' is a horror film and, at the same time, a work deeply imbued with humanity. The filmmakers' keen eye reveals something most of us know: how the US government has a history marked by the cover-up of war crimes, manipulation, and boycotts of various countries.
The figure of journalist Seymour Hersh imbues this film with a sense of urgency and a renewed appreciation for good journalism, transforming it into a sharp and insightful documentary that highlights someone who didn't look the other way, but rather tried to do something about it. The pacing is both harrowing and mesmerizing, revealing why Laura Poitras spent two decades persuading Seymour Hersh to make the film.
Javiera Leal, FIDOCS 29 programmer
Laura Poitras is a journalist and filmmaker. In 2014, she received the Pulitzer Prize for her journalistic work exposing the global mass surveillance of the US agency NSA. She won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival for 'All the Beauty and the Bloodshed' (2022). Her film 'Citizenfour' earned her an Oscar, a BAFTA, a DGA Award, and an Emmy.
Mark Obenhaus is a documentary director, producer, and screenwriter. He has been awarded the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Prize and the Edward R. Murrow Prize, among others. He has made films for the PBS investigative documentary series Frontline and for the American television network ABC.