“Newport & The Great Folk Dream”, interview with Robert Gordon e Joe Lauro

September 10, 2025

Director and producer talk about the documentary presented out of competition at 82nd Venice Film Festival

"Newport & The Great Folk Dream", interview with Robert Gordon e Joe Lauro Giulia Bianconi

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“Newport & The Great Folk Dream”, directed by Robert Gordon, produced by Joe Lauro and presented out of competition at 82nd Venice film Festival, is a documentary made from footage shot in the early 1960s and it could not be more relevant to this 21st century political moment. While making it, they observed the USA trying to turn the world back to the racist and nationalist sentiments of this movie’s early 1960s era. In contrast, they were powerfully moved by the festival’s embrace of diverse cultures, by the exchange of songs and technique between the generations, by the 1960s fight for racial and electoral freedom.

“Newport and the Great Folk Dream” captures the spirit of protest that defined that era. From civil rights demonstrations to anti-war demonstrations, music served as a vital tool for expression and activism. As Robert Gordon explains “the music at that time helped bring along change in the civil rights movement and the anti-war movement. Singing gave people a sense of power and unity”.

Modern relevance of music

The filmmakers note that the themes of protest and social activism remain relevant today. Gordon reflects: “Music is powerful in many ways. When people sing for a cause now as in the past, it creates a bond that can inspire action”. The film advocates that music continues to be a potent tool that can bridge generational gaps and inspiring collective effort.

“Newport and the Great Folk Dream” serves as a powerful reminder of how art and activism intertwine. Through restored footage and insightful storytelling, the film captures a pivotal moment in American history, highlighting the timeless role of folk music as a catalyst for change.

Plot

Powerful music leaps from the air and can change the actual world. At the Newport Folk Festivals in the early 1960s, the molecules were electric with rebellion and democracy, with anger and hope. Musicians drove that change — Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Pete Seeger but also banjo players from coal country, remote Georgia gospel artists, rural Canadian fishermen, and the opportunities created for the urban kids to mingle with those they’d not ordinarily encounter. Newport & the Great Folk Dream sizzles with the energy of youth and promise.

Written by: Giulia Bianconi

Guest

Joe Lauro Robert Gordon

Film

Scene from Newport &The Great Folk Dream

Festival

Mostra del Cinema di Venezia

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