The trailer for “Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery – The Untold Story” has been released, offering a powerful first look at director Ally Pankiw’s sweeping documentary on the groundbreaking all-female music festival that changed the cultural landscape of the late ‘90s.
Commissioned by CBC with the participation of the Canada Media Fund and the Rogers Group of Funds, the film is 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 project is shepherded by producers Dan Levy and Christina Piovesan, with executive producers Cassidy Hartmann, Nicholas Ferrall, Jeanne Elfant Festa, and Nigel Sinclair for White Horse; Noah Segal for Elevation Pictures; Jessica Hopper; Arthur Spector, Joshuah Bearman, and Joshua Davis for Epic Magazine; and Ally Pankiw. Additional producing partners include Chicago Media Project, Minderoo Pictures, the Elfant Festa Family, Sobey Road Entertainment, and Range Media Partners.
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The trailer highlights both the euphoric highs and the cultural resistance the festival encountered. From Sarah McLachlan’s vision in launching the tour to unforgettable performances by Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, Erykah Badu, Paula Cole, Jewel, Mýa, Natalie Merchant, Indigo Girls, and Emmylou Harris, the film captures the historic moment when women dominated stages across North America. The story extends into the present, featuring contemporary artists like Brandi Carlile and Olivia Rodrigo, who reflect on how Lilith’s message resonates today.
Inspired by the 2019 Vanity Fair and Epic Magazine article “Building a Mystery: An Oral History of Lilith Fair” by Jessica Hopper with Sasha Geffen and Jenn Pelly, the documentary draws from more than 600 hours of never-before-seen archival footage, alongside candid new interviews with artists, fans, and organizers. It aims to celebrate Lilith’s bold cultural impact and confront the backlash that tried to diminish it.
“Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery – The Untold Story” will premiere in Canada on Wednesday, Sept. 17, on CBC and CBC Gem, before arriving in the U.S. on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+, and internationally on Disney+ on Sunday, Sept. 21. Watch the trailer below.
