Lilith Fair All-Women Festival Documentary Premieres September

The documentary "Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery," directed by Ally Pankiw, chronicles the history and impact of the all-female music festival Lilith Fair, founded by Sarah McLachlan in the late 1990s to counteract industry barriers limiting women artists. The film features over 600 hours of never-before-seen archival footage alongside new interviews with original artists like Bonnie Raitt, Sheryl Crow, and Natalie Merchant, as well as contemporary musicians such as Brandi Carlile and Olivia Rodrigo. It explores the festival's legacy, the backlash it faced, and its relevance in today's cultural landscape. The documentary will premiere in Canada on CBC and CBC Gem on September 17 and will be available on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ in the U.S. starting September 21, shortly after McLachlan releases her new album "Better Broken." Produced with the support of the original founders, the film highlights the solidarity and positive change fostered by a community of women in the music industry. Actor Dan Levy, whose production company co-produced the film, emphasized the festival's significance as a space of belonging and empowerment for women artists.