Edinburgh International Film Festival 2026 announces
Closing Night film as the World Premiere of Louise Lockwood’s moving documentary Bel
Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has announced that the closing night film of its 79th edition, running from 13 - 19 August 2026, will be the World Premiere of Louise Lockwood’s powerful debut documentary feature Bel.
Bel tells the story of Beldina Odenyo, the Kenyan-Scottish musician, singer and songwriter, who performed under the stage name, Heir of the Cursed as well as working across Scotland’s theatre and poetry communities. After her acclaimed performance at the Scottish Album of the Year Awards in 2021, Bel took her own life, leaving behind raw, intimate video diaries and a hard drive full of original songs of great beauty.
This stirring film documents the journey her sister and friends took to release her work posthumously, creating a heartfelt, insightful portrait of a complex, intelligent and profoundly talented young woman.
Bel is the first feature documentary for cinematic release from Louise Lockwood who has been making acclaimed multi-award-winning television documentaries for over 20 years.
Louise has 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.”
Produced by BAFTA-winning producer Sarah Howitt; executive producers John Archer (Hopscotch Films), Nancy Bornat, and Mark Thomas; and associate producer, the award-winning Scottish poet, novelist, and playwright Jackie Kay.
Bel was commissioned for BBC Two, BBC Scotland and iPlayer by Clare Sillery, former Head of Commissioning, Documentaries and David Harron, Commissioning Editor, BBC Scotland. The Commissioning Editor is Emma Loach, Interim Head of Commissioning, Documentaries and the Commissioning Executive is Shona Thompson.
Bel is supported by Screen Scotland, BBC and National Theatre of Scotland.
EIFF CEO and Festival Director, Paul Ridd has 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.”
Isabel Davis, Executive Director of Screen Scotland said: “This is the perfect platform for Louise Lockwood’s debut theatrical feature Bel, building on her multi-award-winning body of work in Scotland to date. It is fantastic to have been able to support this intensely moving film. EIFF has become a vital meeting point between filmmakers and audiences, with conversations that begin in Edinburgh continuing to resonate internationally long after the festival ends. Those early connections can shape the trajectory of a film around the world; with each edition, EIFF strengthens its reputation as a launchpad for ambitious new work.”
Associate Producer Jackie Kay has said: "Bel’s time on earth was too short. Her afterlife would surprise her if only she could come back to see. Hers was a haunting presence, she was mesmerising to see perform live. With this profoundly moving and insightful documentary, Bel’s legacy is rich, stretching into the unmarked years."
Sarah Howitt, Hopscotch Films, has said: 'Telling Bel's story has been an absolute privilege for all of us. It was vital to us as filmmakers to work closely with those who knew and loved Bel to celebrate her extraordinary talent and bring Bel and her work to a wider audience. Her death had a huge impact on so many, but her music will live on and her story will continue to resonate for many years to come."
This year’s EIFF runs from 13 – 19 August 2026 and opens with the International Premiere of Edinburgh-born filmmaker Louis Paxton’s debut feature The Incomer.
The full programme for this year’s EIFF will launch on 1 July.
EIFF’s invigorated vision under leadership from CEO & Festival Director Paul Ridd and Festival Producer Emma Boa continues to accelerate the discovery of new film talent and engage with audiences, industry members and local, national and international media.
More information will be released about the 2026 Festival in the coming months.
EIFF 2026 is supported by Screen Scotland.