The film about the ‘90s era all women music festival will be available nationwide on CBC Gem starting September 17, 2025…
It’s been almost 30 years since Sarah McLachlan proved music and concert industry executives wrong. After being told a music festival with an all women line-up was not marketable, the songstress launched Lilith Fair. The touring festival lasted three years and became one of the top-grossing music festivals of the late ‘90s. Now, Dan Levy’s Not A Real Production Company and Elevation Pictures are shedding light on the legacy, impact and backlash of the event.
Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery will bring a wave of nostalgia when it premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September. The documentary will then head to CBC and CBC Gem on September 17.
Commissioned by CBC, the documentary is directed by Ally Pankiw (Black Mirror), who McLachlan praises. “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,” said McLachlan in a press release. “I hope the film resonates with everyone and we can continue to strive to support and champion one another.”
The music festival debuted the summer of 1997 with performances by Tracy Chapman, Lisa Loeb, Natalie Merchant, Bonnie Raitt, Dido, Chantal Kreviazuk and more. Ticket sales in the first summer outpaced Lollapalooza. The last Lilith Fair happened in 1999.
“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,” said producer Dan Levy. “I am excited for everyone to understand just how revolutionary Lilith Fair really was.”
What can audiences expect from Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery?
The film tells the untold story of the groundbreaking music festival, which featured only women artists. Inspired by a Vanity Fair and Epic Magazine article titled Building a Mystery: An Oral History of Lilith Fair, the documentary features over 600 hours of never-before-seen archival footage. It has interviews from artists who performed at the 1997 event including Sheryl Crow, Paula Cole, Jewel and Indigo Girls. Their interviews are complemented by stories from fans, festival organizers and other performers including the next generation of artists like Brandi Carlile and Olivia Rodrigo.
“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,” Levy shared. “…there is a lot to be learned from that story.”
McLachlan to release new music in September
If the film has you craving to see McLachlan on tour, you’re in luck! A few weeks after the documentary premieres, the singer-songwriter will release her first studio album in over a decade. Dropping on September 19, Better Broken is described as a soul-searching reflection on the fortitude that comes from weathering life’s constant storms. The artist will support the album with a nationwide tour later in the year.
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