Lilith Fair Doc Set for CBC, Hulu, Disney+

ABC News Studios and CBC are collaborating on Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, a feature-length documentary from director Ally Pankiw that tells the story of the music festival for female artists.

Following its world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, the doc lands on CBC and CBC Gem on September 17 before expanding to Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally. The film is produced with the support of the original Lilith Fair founders: Sarah McLachlan, Terry McBride, Dan Fraser and Marty Diamond.

“I’m so filled with pride and nostalgia watching this film,” said McLachlan. “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. I hope the film resonates with everyone and we can continue to strive to support and champion one another.”

The feature is inspired by the 2019 article “Building a Mystery: An Oral History of Lilith Fair” from Vanity Fair and Epic Magazine, written by Jessica Hopper with Sasha Geffen and Jenn Pelly. Directed by Pankiw, it was commissioned by CBC and produced by Dan Levy’s Not A Real Production Company and Elevation Pictures for ABC News Studios.

“Lilith Fair holds a very special place in my heart,” said Levy. “It was one of the first spaces where I remember feeling at home. The music, the sense of community, and the power of a group of women proving an entire industry wrong were a tremendous thing to experience. 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. And there is a lot to be learned from that story. It’s an honor to be working alongside Sarah on this, and I am excited for everyone to understand just how revolutionary Lilith Fair really was.”

“I am so proud to be a part of this beautiful doc—especially at what feels like a fitting time to highlight a story of resistance and radical joy in the face of systems that try to keep women and diverse voices small,” said Pankiw. “The collaborative effort of this film and what it took to make it mirrors the incredible underdog story of Sarah and her team and how they fought for Lilith to succeed against all odds.”