Festival (stylized as Festival!) is a 1967 American documentary film about the Newport Folk Festivals of the mid-1960s, and the burgeoning counterculture movement of the era, written, produced, and directed by Murray Lerner.
Production The movie was filmed over the course of four festivals at Newport (1963–1966), and includes footage of Bob Dylan’s controversial 1965 electric set.
Reception The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The presentation of the music itself is desultory to say the least, consisting of several fragments by unidentified singers. ... The film does record at least one immensely important moment, when 'folk singer' Dylan appears on stage with a group for the very first time to put together a rock version of "Maggie's Farm". But sadly, this recognised turning point in American pop is treated with complete indifference by the film's makers, who don't even bother to show us the whole of Dylan's act or the significantly shocked audience response which greeted it."
Roger Ebert gave the film out of four stars. His highest praise was for the editors, explaining, "They make their points quietly, with humor and understatement. The result is marvelously entertaining." He also gave credit to Lerner for making "full use of the strength of documentary film, the ability to catch unrehearsed moments that reveal personality."Ebert, Roger. "Festival" (film review), RogerEbert.com, Tuesday, May 21, 1968. Retrieved November 8, 2021
Accolades Festival was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 1968.
Musicians The film features appearances by the following artists:
Joan Baez Horton Barker Fiddler Beers Theodore Bikel Mike Bloomfield Blue Ridge Mountain Dancers Paul Butterfield Blues Band Johnny Cash Judy Collins Cousin Emmy Donovan Bob Dylan Mimi and Richard Fariña Freedom Singers Georgia Sea Island Singers Ronnie Gilbert Mrs. Ollie Gilbert Fannie Lou Hamer Son House Howlin' Wolf Mississippi John Hurt Spider John Koerner Jim Kweskin Jug Band Tex Logan and The Lilly Brothers Mel Lyman Spokes Mashiyane Mississippi Fred McDowell Clayton McMichen Moving Star Hall Singers Odetta Osborne Brothers Joe Patterson Peter, Paul & Mary Almeda Riddle Eck Robertson Sacred Harp Singers Buffy Sainte-Marie Mike Seeger Pete Seeger Hobart Smith The Staple Singers Swan Silvertones Mrs. General Watson Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee Reverend Wilkins Young Fife and Drum Corps
See also List of American films of 1967 Monterey Pop, the 1968 filming of the Monterey Pop Festival Dont Look Back, the 1967 documentary film also featuring Bob Dylan Summer of Soul (2021) Gimme Shelter (1970), documenting The Rolling Stones and the Altamont Free Concert
References
External links
Festival at AllMovie
Festival: Who Knows What’s Gonna Happen Tomorrow? an essay by Amanda Petrusich at the Criterion Collection Festival on MUBI