Edinburgh International Film Festival announces closing film for 2026
Louise Lockwood’s moving documentary Bel will celebrate Beldina Odenyo, the Scottish-Kenyan musician, singer and songwriter
Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced its closing film for 2026 will be Bel, a profile of the Scottish-Kenyan musician, singer and songwriter Beldina Odenyo, who performed under the stage name Heir Of The Cursed.
Building a name for herself across Scotland’s music, theatre and poetry scenes, Odenyo took her own life after a performance at the Scottish Album Of The Year Awards in 2021, leaving behind a series of video diaries and a hard drive of unreleased music.
The documentary charts the journey of her friends and family as they work to release her music. It will be the first documentary from Louise Lockwood to be given a release in cinemas, after two decades of working in television.
Lockwood said: ‘I never knew Bel but her sister, Leah, is my friend. We live in the same village outside Glasgow, our children go to school together and I witnessed the impact Bel’s death had on her family and friends. When she died Bel was still relatively unknown, I want to help Leah change that. The talent was and still is there – hopefully this film will help give Bel a platform to share it from.’
EIFF CEO and festival director, Paul Ridd said: ‘From the moment we saw this profoundly moving film we knew it had to be at our festival. Honouring a lost Scottish artist with sensitivity, warmth and nuance, Louise Lockwood’s film, like Bel’s music, is humane, intimate and raw. We can think of no more perfect a way to close the festival than with this wonderful film.’
EIFF previously announced its opening film will be The Incomer, a Domnhall Gleeson vehicle directed by Louis Paxton that looks as though it may channel elements of Bill Forsyth. The full programme will be unveiled next month.
Edinburgh International Film Festival, various venues, Edinburgh, Thursday 13–Wednesday 19 August.
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