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.
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 Explores 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.
Production In 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.
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.
Release The documentary premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 13, 2025. 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.
Reception Critical response
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."
Accolades The film received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Feature Length Documentary at the 14th Canadian Screen Awards in 2026.Pat Mullen, "Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story Leads Canadian Screen Awards Documentary Nominations". Point of View, March 25, 2026.
YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultCinema Audio Society AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Pictures - DocumentarySteve Foster, Lana Marie Hattar Guild of Music Supervisors AwardsBest Music Supervision for a DocumentaryAmanda Clemens, Jody Colero Webby AwardsVideo & Film (Music)Lilith Fair: Building A Mystery - The Untold Story Rockie AwardsDocumentary & Factual: Arts & CultureWhite Horse Pictures, Elevation Pictures, ABC News Studios, Not A Real Production Company Canadian Screen AwardsBest Feature Length DocumentaryDan Levy, Ally Pankiw, Christina Piovesan, Noah Segal Visual ResearchStefanie McCarrol, Tammy Egan and Judy Ruzylo Dorian TV AwardsBest LGBTQ TV Documentary or Documentary SeriesHulu
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