Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery is a 2025 documentary film directed by Ally Pankiw. It follows the Lilith Fair, a music festival founded by Sarah McLachlan, which focused on female solo musicians and female-led bands. Dan Levy serves as a producer under his Not a Real Production company banner.
| Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ally Pankiw |
| Produced by | |
| Cinematography | Nina Djacic |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | |
Release dates |
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Running time | 99 minutes[1] |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
The documentary premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2025, broadcast on CBC in Canada on September 17, 2025, and was released in the United States on September 21, 2025, by ABC News Studios and Hulu.
Premise
editExplores the Lilith Fair, a musical festival founded by Sarah McLachlan, which focused on female solo musicians and female-led bands. McLachlan, Paula Cole, Sheryl Crow, Brandi Carlile, Erykah Badu, Bonnie Raitt, Jewel, Indigo Girls, Mya, Natalie Merchant, and Emmylou Harris are among those interviewed.[2]
Production
editIn July 2024, it was announced Ally Pankiw would direct a documentary revolving around Lilith Fair, with Dan Levy set to produce. Elevation Pictures and White Horse Pictures will produce the film, with Elevation set to distribute in Canada alongside CBC.[3]
The filmmakers drew from more than 600 hours of never-before-seen archival footage as well as new interviews and stories from fans, festival organizers, and participating artists.[4]
Release
editThe documentary premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2025.[1][5] The documentary was then broadcast on CBC in Canada on September 17, 2025, and released in the United States on September 21, 2025, by ABC News Studios and Hulu.[6]
Reception
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 15 critics' reviews are positive.[7]
Chris Willman of Variety wrote, "Director Ally Pankiw does a solid job of setting up the seeds that led to Lilith becoming a cultural phenomenon and global meme."[8]
The film received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Feature Length Documentary at the 14th Canadian Screen Awards in 2026.[9]
Accolades
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2026
|
Cinema Audio Society Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures - Documentary | Steve Foster, Lana Marie Hattar | Nominated | [10] |
| Guild of Music Supervisors Awards | Best Music Supervision for a Documentary | Amanda Clemens, Jody Colero | Won | [11] | |
| Webby Awards | Video & Film (Music) | Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery - The Untold Story | Won | [12] | |
| Rockie Awards | Documentary & Factual: Arts & Culture | White Horse Pictures, Elevation Pictures, ABC News Studios, Not A Real Production Company | Pending | [13] | |
| Canadian Screen Awards | Best Feature Length Documentary | Dan Levy, Ally Pankiw, Christina Piovesan, Noah Segal | Nominated | [14] | |
| Visual Research | Stefanie McCarrol, Tammy Egan and Judy Ruzylo | Won |
References
edit- 1 2 "Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
- ↑ "CBC and ABC News Studios Announce Premiere of Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery This September". CBC. July 24, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ↑ Vlessing, Etan (July 9, 2024). "Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, Erykah Badu Headline 'Lilith Fair' Documentary (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ↑ Vlessing, Etan (July 24, 2025). "ABC News Studios Acquires 'Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery' Doc Ahead of Toronto Fest Bow (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 21, 2025). "TIFF Galas & Presentations: World Premieres 'Good Fortune', 'Nuremberg', Sydney Sweeney Pic 'Christy', Angelina Jolie 'Couture'; North American Debuts Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein', Dwayne Johnson 'Smashing Machine'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ↑ Spanos, Brittany (July 24, 2025). "Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery Doc to Premiere on Hulu". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ↑ "Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
- ↑ Willman, Chris (September 17, 2025). "'Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery' Review: Music Doc Recalls a '90s Festival That Made It Feel Like Women Might at Least Save Rock, if Not the World". Variety. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
- ↑ Pat Mullen, "Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story Leads Canadian Screen Awards Documentary Nominations". Point of View, March 25, 2026.
- ↑ Society, Cinema Audio (January 20, 2026). "Cinema Audio Society Announces 62nd CAS Awards Nominations Honoring Excellence in Sound Mixing". Cinema Audio Society. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ Pedersen, Erik (March 1, 2026). "'Sinners' Takes Top Film Prize & Best Song At Guild Of Music Supervisors Awards – Winners List". Deadline. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "30TH ANNUAL WEBBY AWARDS ANNOUNCE 2026 WINNERS". The Webby Awards. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ Whittock, Jesse (March 23, 2026). "'Heated Rivalry' & 'The Pitt' Among Banff Rockie Awards Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "2026 Canadian Screen Awards - CBC Nominations by Program". CBC Media Centre. Retrieved April 28, 2026.