The Tragically Hip's 'Long Time Running' Doc Will Air This Week

In the wake of Gord Downie's passing, the film will premiere earlier than initially planned

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Oct 18, 2017

Canada has lost a musical icon in Gord Downie, who passed away last night (October 17) after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in May 2016. To celebrate his life, the Tragically Hip's tour documentary Long Time Running will be now airing ahead of its scheduled TV release date.

Initially slated to air in November, the film will now be broadcast on CTV in an advance, commercial-free world television premiere event this Friday (October 20) at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The film, directed by Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas De Pencier, follows the band's cross-Canada "Man Machine Poem" tour that took place last summer. 

"Canadians from across the country are grieving the passing of this extraordinary individual, and in consultation with the band, we thought this was the right time to share with fans this intimate peek into last summer's tour," Bell Media president Randy Lennox said in a statement. "Gord Downie's talent, passion, and heart made this country a better place. Gord, we miss you already."

Long Time Running was premiered at this year's Toronto International Film Festival, where we called it necessary viewing for people at any level of Hip fandom. The film will also be rebroadcast during its original air date of November 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CTV.

Dive into Downie's storied discography by ordering the complete Tragically Hip vinyl collection and the deluxe edition of Downie's 2016 solo album Secret Path via MusicVaultz.

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