Projects in genres: Scottish

Synopsis

Bel was a Kenyan-Scottish woman who dreamt of singing to the whole world. A gifted musician, singer, and writer, she performed under the stage name Heir of the Cursed and in 2021 was on the absolute cusp of wider fame. But just as the world was finally about to discover her name, Bel took her own life, leaving behind poignant video diaries and a mobile phone full of amazing, unreleased songs. She was a brilliant artist fighting to be heard, yet she remains largely unknown today. Her untimely death and a small but beautiful body of work form her legacy now. Much like the legendary musician Nick Drake who also died young, the power and mystery of Bel’s music lies within the heavy pathos of her life's sudden end. Whatever deep internal struggles led to her tragic death were also at the very heart of what powered her mesmerising art. This documentary tells the story of an artist on the edge of stardom, and her sister Leah’s fierce determination to fulfil Bel's dream: releasing her final record and sharing her with the world. Official Selection Edinburgh International Film Festival 2026 - Closing Night Film - World premiere

Synopsis

In a near future in rural Britain, Mustafa cares for his deaf sister, Amna, spending their days together in their hidden, isolated home. One morning, anti-immigration vigilantes descend, tearing them apart and leaving each to navigate fear, loss, and the quiet brutality of a world shaped by far-right policies. Amna escapes and searches for her brother, moving through the fields with determination, only to witness a horrific event. A meditation on family, the unbreakable ties between siblings, and the devastating cycles of violence that fracture lives. Against the backdrop of systemic oppression, the film explores how hate divides families, how love endures, and how the human heart persists even in the face of destruction.

Synopsis

Angela is living a life devoted to everyone but herself. Caught between revolving identities, she has stepped into roles that generations of women before her have occupied. Disconnected from her husband, Malcolm, and struggling to articulate her dissatisfaction, she leaves home the night before her family is set to attend a wedding, and finds herself confronted by the silence that has stretched between them.

Synopsis

In a battle against time and technology, can Britain's greatest living folklorist find a home for his vast archive of irreplaceable audiovisual material? Official Selection Sheffield DocFest 2026 - World premiere

Synopsis

In the grey rhythms of a 1990s British secondary school, a student begins to sense a discomfort that has no name, just a feeling that the role they’re playing doesn’t quite fit. Through a missing pair of joggers, an unexpected line from Macbeth, and the quiet rituals of uniforms, registers, and school corridors, this film traces the first flickers of identity forming - not through revelation, but recognition.

Synopsis

1810. Two governesses embark on their dream of opening a school for girls on the edge of Scotland’s capital, their chance of an independent life is threatened by the arrival of a new pupil, an orphan, and her aristocratic grandmother. As the pressures of class, race and deeply suppressed emotion build at Drumsheugh boarding school, a series of tragically avoidable events lead to the telling of one irreversible lie. At a time of great social conformity – accused of lesbianism – the resulting scandal leaves the teachers fighting for their livelihoods. Based on the book 'Scotch Verdict: The Real-Life Story That Inspired 'The Children's Hour'' by Lillian Faderman. Official Selection Berlin International Film Festival 2026 - Panorama - World premiere

Synopsis

An immigration ‘dawn raid’ in Glasgow’s most diverse community triggers a chain reaction through Kenmure Street, as neighbours rush to prevent the deportation of two residents.  Broadcast live and going viral on social media, the eight-hour stand-off lets the world watch as a police force struggles to contain a peaceful crowd, then exacerbates an explosive situation.  Centuries of unhappy endings and systemic violence have not prepared the crowd for their peaceful efforts to pay off, and yet it all ends on one of the most joyful notes you’ll get to see. Official Selection Sundance Film Festival 2026 - World premiere Official Selection Glasgow Film Festival 2026 - UK premiere

Synopsis

Widower Kenneth works in the Arberloch visitors centre as a tour guide, dressing up as the town’s most notable historical figure, Sir Douglas Weatherford, an 18th century philosopher and inventor, who Kenneth proudly claims as his ancestor. When the village becomes the base of a big-budget fantasy TV show, the show’s costumed fans descend on the town, leading Kenneth’s sanity to start to crumble as obsession takes hold. Official Selection International Film Festival Rotterdam 2026 - World premiere Official Selection Göteborg Film Festival 2026

Synopsis

Every day, thousands of dairy calves are separated from their mothers at birth. A DAIRY STORY follows Wilma and David Finlay as they risk everything to find a way to keep dairy cows and their calves together. Filmed over two years, we see Wilma and David’s determination to reinvent dairy farming; challenging industry norms by putting nature and animal welfare first. Their path wasn’t easy. They faced criticism and ridicule from their intensive dairy neighbours and almost went bankrupt proving it could work. When Wilma receives a terminal cancer diagnosis, their mission to encourage wider industry adoption of their cow-with-calf system takes on new urgency. This documentary addresses themes of connection and mortality, and topics of animal sentience, the environment and system change. Following calves from birth to weaning, we see the herd's profound capacity for maternal care. A DAIRY STORY shows how changing a farming system changes everything; from the lives of the animals to the wellbeing of the farmers, and perhaps even the future of dairy farming itself. Official Selection IndieCork 2025 - World premiere Official Selection Central Scotland Documentary Festival 2025 - UK premiere

Synopsis

Through the psychoanalytic and introspective voiceover of a young post-pandemic Chinese migrant in Europe, the film interweaves her private memories of intimacy with public narratives of resistance. As her reflections unfold, she and her community navigate secrecy, repression, survival, looming precarity, and displacement, all while confronting the personal cost of existing in a world that demands their silence.

Synopsis

Deen Peels needs sleep, but the world just won't shut up. Over one relentless night, he’s determined to take back control - even if it kills him.

Synopsis

The true story of two Scottish lads from Dundee conned the music industry by pretending to be an established Californian rap duo, appearing on MTV and bagging a record deal until their scam unravelled. Official Selection Toronto International Film Festival 2025 - World premiere Official Selection Glasgow Film Festival 2026