A former chef, Laura Poitras studied filmmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute and the New School. Laura Poitras received a Peabody Award for her ldocumentary, FLAG WARS (2003). A documentary about gentrification in Columbus, Ohio, FLAG WARS received numerous other awards, including Best Documentary at the 2003 SXSW Film Festival, Best Documentary, Seattle Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, and the Filmmaker Award at the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival. FLAG WARS had its U.S. television premiere on PBS's P.O.V. documentary series and was nominated for both a 2004 Independent Spirit Award and a 2004 Emmy Award. Laura's past work includes OH SAY CAN YOU SEE...? (2003), and EXACT FANTASY (1995). She studied filmmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute and the New School. Before making films, she worked as a chef. She currently resides in New York City. The state of democracy, both Iraq's and the United States', is the focus of Laura Poitras's documentary, "My Country, My Country," an unforgettable journey into the heart of war-ravaged Iraq in the months leading up to the January 2005 elections.