Festival (1967 film)

Festival (stylized as Festival!) is a 1967 American documentary film about the Newport Folk Festivals of the mid-1960’s, and the burgeoning counterculture movement of the era, written, produced, and directed by Murray Lerner.

Plot
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 at Newport.

Reception
Roger Ebert gave the film $3 1/2$ 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."

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