This moving documentary chronicles the legacy and talent of late Kenyan-Scottish musician Beldina Odenyo aka Heir of the Cursed. It is now also announced her album Heir of the Cursed has been longlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year Award.
The producers of Louise Lockwood’s powerful theatrical debut Bel are delighted to announce the details for the film’s television broadcast:
9pm on Sunday, 4 October on BBC Scotland and 10pm on Tuesday, 6 October on BBC Four. The film will also be available on the iPlayer on the 4 October.
The film has so far enjoyed a great audience reception as a Closing Film at this year’s Edinburgh International Film Festival on 19 August, which also marked the film’s World Premiere, followed by a tour of hand-picked cinemas, including week-long runs at Filmhouse in Edinburgh and GFT in Glasgow.
This week sees a showing at HOME in Manchester featuring a post-show discussion with director Louise Lockwood and renowned poet Jackie Kay who acted as Associate Producer on the project.
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 Leah McAleer and friends took to release her work posthumously, creating a heartfelt, insightful portrait of a complex, intelligent and profoundly talented young woman.
Marking a poignant full circle moment, it was announced last week that the posthumously released album Heir of the Cursed is longlisted for this year’s Scottish Album of the Year Award with the ceremony taking place in Dundee on 5 November.
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.
Produced by award winning producer Sarah Howitt; executive producers John Archer and Nancy Bornat [Hopscotch Films] Mark Thomas [Screen Scotland] 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, BBC Documentaries and BBC Commissioning Editors, David Harron and Emma Loach with Commissioning Executive Shona Thompson.
Bel is supported by Screen Scotland, BBC and National Theatre of Scotland.
