Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery

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Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery

2025

1h 39m

Documentary

Biography

Music

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100%

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12 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

LILITH FAIR is the story of a group of women who were told their dream was unachievable yet pursued it anyway, and changed music history in the process. It's a story of artists who defied every convention of the music industry, an industry that told them there was only room for one woman at the top. Of how Lilith Fair's camaraderie and a common cause created legendary performances and life-changing concerts for fans. And how the tour rocked American culture, only to have its success obscured, and its lasting legacy largely overlooked, in order to preserve the status quo.

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Sophie Gilbert

The Atlantic

Lilith Fair is partly adapted from an excellent 2019 Vanity Fair oral history of the festival by Jessica Hopper, Sasha Geffen, and Jenn Pelly, but the documentary has the benefit of being able to draw on raw footage of Lilith’s prize asset: its audience.

Oct 2, 2025

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Alissa Wilkinson

New York Times

Art only works if it’s shared in community and handed down from older people to younger ones, and it’s at its best when artists get to collaborate. Every night at Lilith Fair ended with an encore in which all the artists went onstage and sang together.

Sep 26, 2025

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Robert Lloyd

Los Angeles Times

Lilith, for Adam’s mythological unsubmissive first wife, with Fair standing for equal, beautiful and a celebration, was a wild idea made reality, and one whose success would propel it through three summers, from 1997 to 1999.

Sep 20, 2025

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Jennifer Green

Common Sense Media

This documentary gathers a range of voices to craft a portrait not just of a pioneering music festival, but also of a culture not long past.

Rated: 3/5

Oct 14, 2025

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Jagger Blaec

Willamette Week

It weaves nostalgia with cultural critique, featuring never-before-seen '90s footage alongside whimsical storytelling that captures the movement's spirit of rebellion and sisterhood.

Oct 3, 2025

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Johnny Loftus

Decider

Through extensive interviews with many of the festival’s performers, Building a Mystery effectively channels the emotions and positive energy that defined it, and reveals a lot about how far – and not far – our culture’s come since.

Sep 29, 2025

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Karen F

Essential viewing for all young women! As a teenager in the 90s in Vancouver Canada, I loved to see the old footage and the message is even more relevant today. Good for you Sarah🙏🏻

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/20/25

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Jenny F

Amazing that they had so much footage from the “camcorder” days. Authentic, great music, wild to see the marginalization of women performers in the day. I had no idea!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/07/25

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Catherine T

Ah the memories! I absolutely loved every minute of this film. I was lucky enough to be at Lilith Fair back in 1997, but I still learned so much from watching this movie. It brought back all the feelings — the energy, the spirit, the sense of togetherness — and reminded me just how special that moment in music history really was. The behind-the-scenes stories and interviews added so much depth, and the performances were just as powerful as I remembered. It was beautifully put together from start to finish. I think I’m going to watch it again — it’s that good. (PS: Anne, who went to Lilith Fair with me all those years ago, needs to see this movie too. I know it will bring some flashbacks! ) July 10, 1997, at the Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center in Canandaigua.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/05/25

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Kayce C

I absolutely LOVE this!! This is the playlist of my teens, I was in highschool during The Lilith Fair tour. I love all the talented women who participated, and the message they brought was inspiring & life changing.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/05/25

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Rachel K

I loved this! What a nice find on Hulu. Nostalgic, empowering. So good

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/29/25

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Garry A

I knew of this festival when it was happening. I didn't think much of it. Looking back now I'm a fan of alot of artists who performed there. I wish I could go back and see them now!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/26/25

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Ally Pankiw

Director

Erykah Badu

Self

Brandi Carlile

Self

Sheryl Crow

Self

Sarah McLachlan

Self

Paula Cole

Self

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Synopsis

LILITH FAIR is the story of a group of women who were told their dream was unachievable yet pursued it anyway, and changed music history in the process. It's a story of artists who defied every convention of the music industry, an industry that told them there was only room for one woman at the top. Of how Lilith Fair's camaraderie and a common cause created legendary performances and life-changing concerts for fans. And how the tour rocked American culture, only to have its success obscured, and its lasting legacy largely overlooked, in order to preserve the status quo.

Director: Ally Pankiw
Producer: Carlene Carrasco Laughlin, Dan Levy, Christina Piovesan
Distributor: Hulu
Production Co: Elevation Pictures, Not a Real Production Company
Genre: Documentary, Biography, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 21, 2025
Runtime: 1h 39m

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