From the film website: “Accordions Rising is a documentary feature film about the resurgence of interest in accordion music over the last 30-40 years. Though many continue to see the accordion as the stodgy instrument of a bygone era – and accordion jokes abound — it is time to set the record straight!
Roberta Cantow was recognized with her first grant from The American Film Institute while still a graduate film student at NYU. Through the years, The New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York Foundation for the Arts and others provided grants for the completion of four film works.
She received a NY Area Emmy for her film, “Clotheslines”, about the symbolic and artistic role of laundry in women’s lives. Her films and additional videos have garnered several Best of Category Citations in film festivals around the country as well as an Award of Excellence for Dreamtime, in 2008 and an Award of Merit for Not a Still Life, both in the document-ary category, from the Accolade Competition. Her work has been exhibited in many of the venues for independents, including a presentation in the Cineprobe Series of the Museum of Modern Art in NYC.
Her four 16mm films were selected for archival preservation by the Donnell Media Center, New York City, in 2001. All of her work will be housed in the Sophia Smith Women’s History Collection of Smith College (in perpetuity).”
Roberta’s update on the film: “I have submitted “Accordions Rising” to about 10 different film festivals. SXSW is a big deal film and music festival which takes place in Austin, Texas in March. In addition to the usual information, they made a special request for a film’s “twitter handle.” Thus, a new way to support the film in relation to this festival possibility is to follow on twitter @accordionsrising to show that interest exists there as well. (Note that the twitter handle is not plural). I m also hoping to continue to grow the mailing list on the film’s website: www.accordionsrising.com.
In the coming week or so, there will also be a way for people who have seen the film, such as those who contributed and received a copy as a perk, to write comments on the site and to even have conversations there.”
Editor Rita Barnea comments: “I have previewed Roberta Cantow’s new documentary, “Accordions Rising” and recommend that everyone obtain a copy of it when it is available. The film is an excellent, entertaining, and educational view of the accordion. It shows the vast versatility and importance of the accordion, its diversity crossing all cultural and musical boundaries. Truly, when you see this film, it will greatly enhance your understanding of the accordion, where it is today and how it will go on to influence our musical future.”
Roberta concludes:”Making this film was a complete thrill and kept me going for five years!. I am very excited to present “Accordions Rising” to the world. Unfortunately, in the hopes of getting a premiere at a choice film festival, I have to keep it on reserve until I am notified of festival acceptance and presentation.”
For further information: rcantow@originaldigital.net
