Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery

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Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery

2025

1h 39m

Documentary

Biography

Music

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9 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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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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Chris Willman

Variety

Whether you were around at the time or are learning about it afresh, like Rodrigo, you may spend the entirety of the doc wishing we could get ourselves back to the garden.

Sep 19, 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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Stephen Silver

The SS Ben Hecht

Doesn't do much to reinvent the form, but anyone who was a devotee of that particular scene in that particular era is likely to love this.

Sep 24, 2025

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Jason Gorber

Next Best Picture

Many of the lessons of Lilith Fair have quickly been forgotten, and the film plays a further role in reminding not only of its successes, but of the way many elements of its courageous stands have been left aside in favor of other considerations.

Rated: 8/10

Sep 17, 2025

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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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The v

If you absolutely love white women lavishing praise upon themselves for bringing a token black performer into the whitest, blandest chick tunes with extra mayo in human history, this is the doc for you.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

09/21/25

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Sarah H

Such a touching tribute to the impact these women had and have. As a 45 year old now I would attend again - multiple cities - if there was a reunion tour. Thank you for bringing back such wonderful, ambitious, hopeful memories.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/21/25

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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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