ABC News Studios & CBC announce premiere of 'Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery' this September

Documentary, directed by Ally Pankiw, was commissioned by CBC

ABC News Studios Press Release

ABC News Studios and CBC announced today “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery,” a feature-length documentary from director Ally Pankiw (“I Used to Be Funny,” “Black Mirror,” “The Great”), will premiere in Canada on Wednesday, Sept. 17, on CBC and CBC Gem; and on Sunday, Sept. 21, on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally (excluding Canada), following its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.

“Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery” tells the untold story of the groundbreaking music festival featuring only women artists, started by iconic Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan and her team in the late-1990s, in opposition to systemic industry barriers that limited women from playing together on a concert bill and getting back-to-back airplay on the radio. The film is produced with the support of the original Lilith Fair founders: McLachlan, Terry McBride, Dan Fraser and Marty Diamond.

“I’m so filled with pride and nostalgia watching this film,” McLachlan said. “Ally and the team have beautifully captured the magic and strength of a community of women who came together and lifted each other up to create positive change in the world. I hope the film resonates with everyone, and we can continue to strive to support and champion one another.”

“Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery” is inspired by the 2019 article “Building a Mystery: An Oral History of Lilith Fair” from Vanity Fair and Epic Magazine, written by Jessica Hopper with Sasha Geffen and Jenn Pelly. It draws from more than 600 hours of never-before-seen archival footage, as well as new interviews and stories from fans, festival organizers and artists. The documentary reunites and features interviews with original Lilith Fair artists Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Erykah Badu, Paula Cole, Jewel, Mýa, Natalie Merchant, Indigo Girls and Emmylou Harris, and a new generation of artists who have carried the torch, including Brandi Carlile and Olivia Rodrigo, among others. As the film celebrates the festival’s groundbreaking legacy and impact, it also confronts the backlash that tried to diminish it and explores what Lilith means in today’s world.

Commissioned by CBC with the participation of the Canada Media Fund and the Rogers Group of Funds, “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery” is directed by Pankiw, produced by Dan Levy’s Not A Real Production Company and Elevation Pictures for ABC News Studios, and presented by White Horse Pictures in association with Epic Magazine. The film is produced by Levy and Christina Piovesan.

“Lilith Fair holds a very special place in my heart,” Levy said. “It was one of the first spaces where I remember feeling at home. The music, the sense of community, and the power of a group of women proving an entire industry wrong were a tremendous thing to experience. What Sarah built with that festival changed so much for so many people. And while it is now seen as an odds-defying success story, it was an uphill battle every step of the way. And there is a lot to be learned from that story. It's an honor to be working alongside Sarah on this, and I am excited for everyone to understand just how revolutionary Lilith Fair really was.”

Pankiw said, “I am so proud to be a part of this beautiful doc – especially at what feels like a fitting time to highlight a story of resistance and radical joy in the face of systems that try to keep women and diverse voices small. The collaborative effort of this film and what it took to make it mirrors the incredible underdog story of Sarah and her team and how they fought for Lilith to succeed against all odds.”

The film will launch the new season of CBC’s flagship documentary series “The Passionate Eye.”

In addition to the documentary premiere this fall, McLachlan will launch her first studio album of new music in over a decade, “Better Broken” (Concord Records), on Sept. 19. Produced by Tony Berg (Phoebe Bridgers, boygenius) and Will Maclellan (Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers), “Better Broken” is a soul-searching reflection on the fortitude that comes from weathering life’s constant storms. McLachlan will also be touring with her band across Canada this fall. For more information, visit sarahmclachlan.com.