Making the Tragically Hip tour documentary 鈥淟ong Time Running鈥� was a shotgun project of sorts for its filmmakers.

鈥淚t started on a dime,鈥� explained co-director Nicholas de Pencier on Wednesday during the film鈥檚 red carpet premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

鈥淔ive days before the first show,鈥� added Jennifer Baichwal, the film鈥檚 other director.

That鈥檚 a rarity for the filmmaker couple, who previously worked together on the 2013 documentary 鈥淲atermark.鈥�

But they say getting the chance to follow the Hip on their defining 鈥淢an Machine Poem鈥� tour was an opportunity they couldn鈥檛 pass up.

The documentary follows the Canadian band as they embark on run of farewell shows and face the reality of Gord Downie鈥檚 incurable brain cancer diagnosis.

The Hip frontman was absent from the premiere, though his bandmates Gord Sinclair, Johnny Fay, Rob Baker and Paul Langlois all showed up. They declined to speak with reporters about the making of the film.

Unlike most projects, the filmmakers say this one came together almost on the fly. Downie鈥檚 health condition meant the band was never entirely certain if they鈥檇 be able to complete the tour.

鈥淣ormally there鈥檚 a lot of preparation,鈥� de Pencier added.

鈥淭his was: 鈥楴o, we鈥檙e running away and we鈥檙e joining the circus. We鈥檙e on tour now and we鈥檙e filming.鈥� So we had to play catch up and work really quickly.鈥�

The documentary makers say knowing the Hip band members personally for 20 years helped them get accustomed to the touring atmosphere.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not that we wanted to do it, it鈥檚 that we were asked to do it,鈥� Baichwal said.

鈥淲e all were sort of in this, 鈥業s this really the right thing to do in this moment?鈥� And it was, and so that鈥檚 how it came together 鈥� They trusted us.鈥�

鈥� with files from Shetu Modi.

David Friend, The Canadian Press