The Heart is a Muscle
Imran Hamdulay | South Africa | 2025 | Afrikaans & English with English subtitles | 86m
Scottish Premiere
In Cape Town, a group of friends are having a barbecue but the day is disrupted when Ryan’s son goes missing. Ryan’s desperate search for his child sparks a series of incidents, putting a strain on his friendships and marriage. As unknown events from the past are revealed and Ryan continues to find himself in difficult situations, despite his best intentions, he begins to realise that in order to be a better father, husband and friend, he must first learn to forgive himself.
After winning the jury prize at Berlin International Film Festival earlier this year, Imran Hamdulay’s directorial debut was recently selected as South Africa’s entry for the 98th Academy Awards.
The feature will be screened alongside short film:
LESPRI
Jard Lerebours | US | 2024 | English | 5m
European Premiere
An unnamed narrator uses found footage from his childhood in an attempt to paint a portrait of his father and their painful relationship.
This screening will be followed by a discussion, centred on the themes of the films, with Scottish musicians Matt Hickman (Brownbear), Sean Focus and Bemz.
Sean Focus
Sean Focus is a Zimbabwean-born, Edinburgh-based artist shaping a sound that lives between continents.
Fusing afro-pop, hip hop and dancehall with rich storytelling and undeniable rhythm, his music reflects a life spent navigating movement, memory and identity — and translating all of it into high-voltage sound.
He first broke through with early singles on Charlie Sloth’s Grimey Limey label in 2020, carving out a signature style full of texture, energy and emotional depth. Since then, he’s been steadily building — both sonically and in community — becoming one of the most exciting voices emerging from Scotland’s diverse hip hop scene.
In 2022, his feature on Bemz’s Raging Bull introduced Sean to wider audiences, as the two performed together across key festival stages including TRNSMT, Riverside Festival and BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend. That live momentum laid the groundwork for international appearances — including a standout set at Lake of Stars Festival in Malawi and a high-energy performance at SXSW London in 2025.
This year, Sean’s latest single Desire has earned strong support at home and abroad, and caught the attention of BBC 1Xtra’s Theo Johnson, who spotlighted him as a Step Up Artist.
With upcoming performances locked in for the Edinburgh Fringe and a return to Lake of Stars, Sean continues to bring new meaning to Afrofusion — music made for those who’ve moved, adapted, and still carry the pulse of home.
Bemz
Born in Nigeria, raised in South London, and later moving to Stranraer, Scotland, Bemz discovered his voice in unexpected places. From freestyle sessions with his brother at 15 to studying sound production and releasing his SAY Award–nominated debut album Saint of Lost Causes in 2020, his journey highlights the expansive cultural reach of rap.
Supported by outlets like Clash, The Skinny, and BBC platforms including Radio 1, 1Xtra, and 6 Music, his raw and emotionally charged music is strikingly honest. He has made the SAY Award shortlist, won the Scottish Music Awards’ Sound of Scotland title, toured with The Snuts, supported Example, CASISDEAD, and Grandmaster Flash, debuted at TRNSMT, and headlined sold-out shows at SWG3’s Warehouse and Edinburgh’s Sneaky Pete’s. He’s also impressed with performances at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Tallinn Music Week, and festivals like Kelburn Garden Party and Youth Beatz.
His EP Nova’s Dad revealed his introspective side, exploring themes of family and self-acceptance, while high-energy tracks like “G.O.M (Gyallie On Me)” and “Rowdy,” a collaboration with Paisley’s Washington, showcase his evolving sound.
A standout achievement of 2024 was founding M4 Festival in Glasgow with DF Concerts, celebrating Scotland’s diverse music scene and headlining its debut event to a packed crowd. In addition to the main festival, Bemz regularly organises smaller M4 events, spotlighting up-and-coming Scottish talent and providing a vital platform for emerging artists across hip hop, rap, grime, and R&B.
His collaborations continue to elevate his profile, including teaming up with EA Sports for the launch of EA Sports FC 25 alongside Celtic FC and traveling to Euro 2024 with JD Sports to present for their channels. With new music on the horizon and a support slot at a sold-out Barrowlands show for the acclaimed jazz collective corto.alto, Bemz’s trajectory continues to rise with no signs of slowing down.
Matt Hickman (host)
Matt Hickman is an award winning Songwriter, Filmmaker and creative from Ayrshire, Best known for his work with the Scottish Indie-Soul outfit ‘Brownbear’.