Directed by Kevin Nikkel, Dave Barber

Logline: How a music festival on the Manitoba prairie grew to become one of the most important folk festivals in North America—thanks to Mitch Podolak’s bright idea.

Synopsis: When We Became Folk Fest is a feature documentary about the founding and explosive growth of the Winnipeg Folk Festival. The driving force of the Festival’s start was the audacious and unflinching founder, Mitch Podolak. Using a cache of unseen Super 8 footage shot in 1975 by the Winnipeg Film Group, we see the Festival’s beginnings through incredible archival images and pristine sound recordings from the Folk Festival collection. Interviews with celebrated fest luminaries and live musical performances carry the story of how an underdog music festival grew out of the meadows of Birds Hill Park to become one of the most important folk festivals in North America. With Tom Jackson, Cathy Fink, Paul Mills, Bruce Cockburn, Ken Whiteley, Grit Laskin and many more.

Distribution Contact: WFG

More Details

RUNTIME: 70 Minutes
GENRE: Documentary
PRODUCTION FORMAT: Super 8mm
LANGUAGE: English
LOCATION: Manitoba
TECHNIQUES: Live Action
KEYWORDS: Folk Music, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Culture, Historical, Music