Iconic Rock Festival Reunion in New Doc That Features ‘Never-Before-Seen Archival Footage’ originally appeared on Parade.
ABC News Studios and the Canadian Broadcasting Company announced on Thursday, July 24, that they are premiering a documentary about the iconic Lilith Fair music festival in conjunction with original founder Sarah McLachlan.
Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery is a feature-length documentary from director Ally Pankiw that “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 systematic industry barriers that limited women from playing together on a concert bill and getting back-to-back airplay on the radio,” according to the press release.
The documentary is inspired by the Vanity Fair article “Building a Mystery: An Oral History of Lilith Fair,” and 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.”
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The press release continues, “The documentary reunites and features interviews from 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.”
“I’m so filled with pride and nostalgia watching this film,” said McLachlan in a statement. “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.”
The film was produced by actor Dan Levy’s Not A Real Production Company, and he said in a statement, “Lilith Fair holds a very special place in my heart. 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 was 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.”
Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery premieres on Wednesday, September 17 on CBC and CBC Gem in Canada and on Sunday, September 21 on Hulu in the U.S.
Iconic Rock Festival Reunion in New Doc That Features ‘Never-Before-Seen Archival Footage’ first appeared on Parade on Jul 24, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.