Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Michelle Mama and released in 2026."Hot Docs Festival to open with film on queer rock icon Carole Pope". CP24, March 24, 2026. The film profiles Carole Pope, the singer who became one of Canada's first out lesbian celebrities with her band Rough Trade in the 1980s.Susan G. Cole, "Carole Pope’s Rough Ride". Point of View, April 21, 2026.
In addition to Pope herself, figures appearing in the film to discuss her legacy include k.d. lang, Peaches, Jann Arden, Rufus Wainwright, George Stroumboulopoulos and Jeanne Beker.Pat Mullen, "Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions Review – Cream of the Crop". Point of View, April 24, 2026. Peaches also signed on as an executive producer of the film.Andrew Tracy, "Peaches boards Hot Docs opener ‘Antidiva’ as EP". Playback, April 22, 2026.
Production of the film was first announced in 2024."High School Confidential’ singer Carole Pope focus of documentary ‘AntiDiva’". City News Toronto, April 17, 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2025. In an essay for the Cutaways column on CBC Arts at the time of its premiere, Pope wrote about her experiences working with Mama on the film.Carole Pope, "Carole Pope on the new doc Antidiva: 'I was so tired of being underappreciated as an artist'". CBC Arts, April 21, 2026.
The film premiered on April 23, 2026, as the opening film of the 2026 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival.Etan Vlessing, "Hot Docs Fest to Open With ‘Antidiva: The Carole Pope Confessions’". The Hollywood Reporter, March 24, 2026. It will be broadcast on Documentary and CBC Gem later in 2026.
Critical response Pat Mullen of Point of View wrote that "Pope expresses fair words of love and pain, as well as pride and regret, throughout the film, but she doesn’t look for pity. In fact, the film’s the better for it as the rocker’s story simply doesn’t fit the hagiographic mould into which so many music docs fall. If she’s tight-lipped in parts, Pope says more about her experience in the biz by refusing to waste time looking back. She keeps hustling with the cameras seemingly determined to keep pace. Antidiva works because of, and in spite of, Carole Pope."
Awards The film won the juried award for Best Canadian Film at the 2026 Inside Out Film and Video Festival.Amber Dowling, "‘Antidiva’ wins Best Canadian Feature at Inside Out". Playback, June 10, 2026.
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