By 
Documentary on Trailblazing Slide Guitarist Ellen McIlwaine Premieres March 12
Montreal, Quebec – Goddess of Slide: The Forgotten Story of Musician Ellen McIlwaine, a new documentary from award-winning director Alfonso Maiorana (Soul Flicker Films), debuts on CBC Gem on Wednesday, March 12. This intimate and inspiring film traces the extraordinary life of Ellen McIlwaine, a pioneering musician who broke barriers in the male-dominated world of slide guitar.
McIlwaine was one of the first women to master the slide guitar, an instrument long associated with men, despite facing resistance from peers and the music industry. Unwilling to bend to expectations about how a rising artist should look or sound, she carved her own path, often at the cost of record deals and mainstream success. Her unwavering passion and artistic integrity, however, defined her legacy.
The documentary explores McIlwaine’s groundbreaking career, from her early performances in Greenwich Village where she shared stages with icons like Odetta, Richie Havens, and Mississippi John Hurt to her unforgettable six-night run alongside Jimi Hendrix. It showcases her genre-defying talent and cultural influence, cementing her as a trailblazer who challenged industry norms.
After winning the Audience Choice Award for Music on Screen Feature at the Calgary International Film Festival in September 2024, Goddess of Slide continues to captivate audiences at festivals across the U.S. and Europe. The film brings McIlwaine’s overlooked story to a global spotlight.
Ahead of its CBC Gem premiere, a special screening is set for Sunday, March 9, at 12:30 PM at Toronto’s Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema (506 Bloor St West). Director Alfonso Maiorana will attend for a post-screening Q&A.
Produced by Maiorana and Agata De Santis, Goddess of Slide was supported by the Canada Media Fund, the Quebec Film and Television Tax Credit, the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit, Documentary Channel, the Rogers Documentary Fund, and the Hot Docs-Slaight Family Fund.
