diff --git a/scenedetect/output/__init__.py b/scenedetect/output/__init__.py
index 7e5fac31..19e19418 100644
--- a/scenedetect/output/__init__.py
+++ b/scenedetect/output/__init__.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 """
 
 import csv
+import functools
 import json
 import logging
 import math
@@ -68,8 +69,39 @@
 logger = logging.getLogger("pyscenedetect")
 
 
+_F = ty.TypeVar("_F", bound=ty.Callable[..., ty.Any])
+
+
+def _open_output_file(parameter_name: str, *, newline: str | None = None):
+    """Allows a writer's first argument to be an open text file or an output path.
+
+    File handles remain open after the writer returns. Paths are opened in write mode and closed
+    when the writer returns.
+    """
+
+    def decorator(func: _F) -> _F:
+        @functools.wraps(func)
+        def wrapper(*args: ty.Any, **kwargs: ty.Any):
+            output_file = args[0] if args else kwargs[parameter_name]
+
+            if not isinstance(output_file, (str, Path)):
+                return func(*args, **kwargs)
+
+            with open(output_file, "w", newline=newline) as file_handle:
+                if args:
+                    return func(file_handle, *args[1:], **kwargs)
+
+                kwargs[parameter_name] = file_handle
+                return func(**kwargs)
+
+        return ty.cast(_F, wrapper)
+
+    return decorator
+
+
+@_open_output_file(parameter_name="output_csv_file", newline="")
 def write_scene_list(
-    output_csv_file: ty.TextIO | str | Path,
+    output_csv_file: str | Path | ty.TextIO,
     scene_list: SceneList,
     include_cut_list: bool = True,
     cut_list: CutList | None = None,
@@ -93,17 +125,7 @@ def write_scene_list(
     Raises:
         TypeError: "delimiter" must be a 1-character string
     """
-    if isinstance(output_csv_file, (str, Path)):
-        with open(output_csv_file, "w", newline="") as file_handle:
-            write_scene_list(
-                file_handle,
-                scene_list,
-                include_cut_list=include_cut_list,
-                cut_list=cut_list,
-                col_separator=col_separator,
-                row_separator=row_separator,
-            )
-        return
+    output_csv_file = ty.cast(ty.TextIO, output_csv_file)
     csv_writer = csv.writer(output_csv_file, delimiter=col_separator, lineterminator=row_separator)
     # If required, output the cutting list as the first row (i.e. before the header row).
     if include_cut_list:
@@ -304,8 +326,9 @@ def _parse_edl_start_timecode(value: str, frame_rate: Fraction | float) -> int:
     return round((hours * 3600 + minutes * 60 + seconds) * float(frame_rate)) + frames
 
 
+@_open_output_file("output_path")
 def write_scene_list_edl(
-    output_path: str | Path,
+    output_path: str | Path | ty.TextIO,
     scene_list: SceneList,
     title: str = "PySceneDetect",
     reel: str = "AX",
@@ -314,7 +337,8 @@ def write_scene_list_edl(
     """Writes the given list of scenes to `output_path` in CMX 3600 EDL format.
 
     Arguments:
-        output_path: Path to write the EDL file to. Parent directories must exist.
+        output_path: Open text file or path to write the EDL file to. Parent directories must
+            exist. When a path is provided, the file is closed after writing.
         scene_list: List of scenes as pairs of FrameTimecodes denoting each scene's start/end.
         title: Title header written as ``TITLE:`` in the EDL.
         reel: Reel name used for each event. Typically 2-8 uppercase characters.
@@ -322,7 +346,7 @@ def write_scene_list_edl(
             every event so the EDL aligns with the source media's on-screen timecode. Applied to
             both source and record columns.
     """
-    output_path = Path(output_path)
+    output_file = ty.cast(ty.TextIO, output_path)
     offset_frames = 0
     if start_timecode is not None and start_timecode.strip() and scene_list:
         frame_rate = scene_list[0][0].frame_rate
@@ -333,14 +357,16 @@ def write_scene_list_edl(
         in_tc = _edl_timecode(start + offset_frames)
         out_tc = _edl_timecode(end + offset_frames)
         lines.append(f"{(i + 1):03d}  {reel} V     C        {in_tc} {out_tc} {in_tc} {out_tc}")
-    logger.info("Writing scenes in EDL format to %s", output_path)
-    with open(output_path, "w") as f:
-        # `scenedetect` is imported lazily to avoid a circular import at module load.
-        import scenedetect
+    logger.info(
+        "Writing scenes in EDL format to %s",
+        getattr(output_file, "name", "<file-like object>"),
+    )
+    # `scenedetect` is imported lazily to avoid a circular import at module load.
+    import scenedetect
 
-        f.write(f"* CREATED WITH PYSCENEDETECT {scenedetect.__version__}\n")
-        f.write("\n".join(lines))
-        f.write("\n")
+    output_file.write(f"* CREATED WITH PYSCENEDETECT {scenedetect.__version__}\n")
+    output_file.write("\n".join(lines))
+    output_file.write("\n")
 
 
 def _rational_seconds(value: Fraction) -> str:
@@ -359,8 +385,9 @@ def _frame_timecode_seconds(tc: FrameTimecode) -> Fraction:
     return Fraction(tc.pts) * tc.time_base
 
 
+@_open_output_file(parameter_name="output_path")
 def write_scene_list_fcpx(
-    output_path: str | Path,
+    output_path: str | Path | ty.TextIO,
     scene_list: SceneList,
     video_path: str | Path,
     frame_rate: Fraction,
@@ -374,7 +401,8 @@ def write_scene_list_fcpx(
     https://developer.apple.com/documentation/professional-video-applications/fcpxml-reference
 
     Arguments:
-        output_path: Path to write the FCPXML file to. Parent directories must exist.
+        output_path: Open text file or path to write the FCPXML file to. Parent directories must
+            exist. When a path is provided, the file is closed after writing.
         scene_list: List of scenes as pairs of FrameTimecodes. Must not be empty.
         video_path: Path to the source video file; written into the output as a ``file://`` URI.
         frame_rate: Source frame rate as a rational `Fraction` (e.g. ``Fraction(24000, 1001)``).
@@ -383,7 +411,7 @@ def write_scene_list_fcpx(
             of `video_path`.
     """
     assert scene_list
-    output_path = Path(output_path)
+    output_file = ty.cast(ty.TextIO, output_path)
     video_path = Path(video_path)
     if video_name is None:
         video_name = video_path.stem
@@ -453,13 +481,16 @@ def write_scene_list_fcpx(
     pretty_xml = minidom.parseString(ElementTree.tostring(root, encoding="unicode")).toprettyxml(
         indent="  "
     )
-    logger.info("Writing scenes in FCPX format to %s", output_path)
-    with open(output_path, "w") as f:
-        f.write(pretty_xml)
+    logger.info(
+        "Writing scenes in FCPX format to %s",
+        getattr(output_file, "name", "<file-like object>"),
+    )
+    output_file.write(pretty_xml)
 
 
+@_open_output_file(parameter_name="output_path")
 def write_scene_list_fcp7(
-    output_path: str | Path,
+    output_path: str | Path | ty.TextIO,
     scene_list: SceneList,
     video_path: str | Path,
     frame_rate: Fraction,
@@ -474,7 +505,8 @@ def write_scene_list_fcp7(
     ``pathurl`` is written as a valid ``file://`` URI per the xmeml spec.
 
     Arguments:
-        output_path: Path to write the xmeml file to. Parent directories must exist.
+        output_path: Open text file or path to write the xmeml file to. Parent directories must
+            exist. When a path is provided, the file is closed after writing.
         scene_list: List of scenes as pairs of FrameTimecodes. Must not be empty.
         video_path: Path to the source video file; written into the output as a ``file://`` URI.
         frame_rate: Source frame rate as a rational `Fraction`.
@@ -486,7 +518,7 @@ def write_scene_list_fcp7(
             frozen. If None, falls back to the last scene's end time.
     """
     assert scene_list
-    output_path = Path(output_path)
+    output_file = ty.cast(ty.TextIO, output_path)
     video_path = Path(video_path)
     if video_name is None:
         video_name = video_path.stem
@@ -570,16 +602,19 @@ def write_scene_list_fcp7(
     pretty_xml = minidom.parseString(ElementTree.tostring(root, encoding="unicode")).toprettyxml(
         indent="  "
     )
-    logger.info("Writing scenes in FCP format to %s", output_path)
-    with open(output_path, "w") as f:
-        f.write(pretty_xml)
+    logger.info(
+        "Writing scenes in FCP format to %s",
+        getattr(output_file, "name", "<file-like object>"),
+    )
+    output_file.write(pretty_xml)
 
 
 # TODO: We have to export framerate as a float for OTIO's current format. When OTIO supports
 # fractional timecodes, we should export the framerate as a rational number instead.
 # https://github.com/AcademySoftwareFoundation/OpenTimelineIO/issues/190
+@_open_output_file(parameter_name="output_path")
 def write_scene_list_otio(
-    output_path: str | Path,
+    output_path: str | Path | ty.TextIO,
     scene_list: SceneList,
     video_path: str | Path,
     frame_rate: Fraction,
@@ -591,7 +626,8 @@ def write_scene_list_otio(
     OTIO (OpenTimelineIO) timelines can be imported by many video editors.
 
     Arguments:
-        output_path: Path to write the OTIO file to. Parent directories must exist.
+        output_path: Open text file or path to write the OTIO file to. Parent directories must
+            exist. When a path is provided, the file is closed after writing.
         scene_list: List of scenes as pairs of FrameTimecodes.
         video_path: Path to the source video file; written into the output as an absolute path.
         frame_rate: Source frame rate as a rational `Fraction`. Exported as a float, as the
@@ -599,7 +635,7 @@ def write_scene_list_otio(
         name: Timeline name. Defaults to the stem of `video_path`.
         audio: If True (default), include an audio track alongside the video track.
     """
-    output_path = Path(output_path)
+    output_file = ty.cast(ty.TextIO, output_path)
     video_path = Path(video_path)
     if name is None:
         name = video_path.stem
@@ -680,7 +716,9 @@ def write_scene_list_otio(
         },
     }
 
-    logger.info("Writing scenes in OTIO format to %s", output_path)
-    with open(output_path, "w") as f:
-        json.dump(otio, f, indent=4)
-        f.write("\n")
+    logger.info(
+        "Writing scenes in OTIO format to %s",
+        getattr(output_file, "name", "<file-like object>"),
+    )
+    json.dump(otio, output_file, indent=4)
+    output_file.write("\n")
diff --git a/tests/test_output.py b/tests/test_output.py
index 1f434873..a81eae36 100644
--- a/tests/test_output.py
+++ b/tests/test_output.py
@@ -291,12 +291,31 @@ def test_write_scene_list_edl(tmp_path: Path):
     assert "002  AX V     C        00:00:01:00 00:00:02:00 00:00:01:00 00:00:02:00" in content
 
 
+def test_write_scene_list_edl_file_handle():
+    """EDL output accepts an open text file."""
+    scenes = _fake_scenes(_FPS_CFR, [(0, 30)])
+    buf = StringIO()
+    write_scene_list_edl(buf, scenes)
+    text = buf.getvalue()
+    assert "TITLE:" in text
+
+
 def test_write_scene_list_edl_accepts_str_path(tmp_path: Path):
-    """`output_path` must accept both Path and str."""
+    """EDL output accepts a string path."""
     scenes = _fake_scenes(_FPS_CFR, [(0, 30)])
     output_path = tmp_path / "scenes.edl"
     write_scene_list_edl(str(output_path), scenes)
     assert output_path.exists()
+    assert "TITLE:" in output_path.read_text()
+
+
+def test_write_scene_list_edl_accepts_path(tmp_path: Path):
+    """EDL output accepts a `Path`."""
+    scenes = _fake_scenes(_FPS_CFR, [(0, 30)])
+    output_path = tmp_path / "scenes.edl"
+    write_scene_list_edl(output_path, scenes)
+    assert output_path.exists()
+    assert "TITLE:" in output_path.read_text()
 
 
 def test_write_scene_list_edl_with_start_timecode_smpte(tmp_path: Path):
@@ -428,6 +447,56 @@ def test_write_scene_list_fcpx_video_name_defaults_to_path_stem(tmp_path: Path):
     assert asset is not None and asset.attrib["name"] == "my_clip"
 
 
+def test_write_scene_list_fcpx_file_handle():
+    """FCPXML output accepts an open text file."""
+    scenes = _fake_scenes(_FPS_NTSC, [(48, 96), (96, 144)])
+    buf = StringIO()
+    # `video_path` need not exist; only `.absolute().as_uri()` is called on it.
+    write_scene_list_fcpx(
+        output_path=buf,
+        scene_list=scenes,
+        video_path=Path("fake_video.mp4"),
+        frame_rate=_FPS_NTSC,
+        frame_size=(1280, 544),
+    )
+
+    assert buf.getvalue().startswith('<?xml version="1.0"')
+
+
+def test_write_scene_list_fcpx_accepts_str_path(tmp_path: Path):
+    """FCPXML output accepts a string path."""
+    scenes = _fake_scenes(_FPS_NTSC, [(48, 96), (96, 144)])
+    output_path = tmp_path / "scenes.xml"
+    # `video_path` need not exist; only `.absolute().as_uri()` is called on it.
+    write_scene_list_fcpx(
+        output_path=str(output_path),
+        scene_list=scenes,
+        video_path=tmp_path / "fake_video.mp4",
+        frame_rate=_FPS_NTSC,
+        frame_size=(1280, 544),
+    )
+
+    assert output_path.exists()
+    assert output_path.read_text().startswith('<?xml version="1.0"')
+
+
+def test_write_scene_list_fcpx_accepts_path(tmp_path: Path):
+    """FCPXML output accepts a `Path`."""
+    scenes = _fake_scenes(_FPS_NTSC, [(48, 96), (96, 144)])
+    output_path = tmp_path / "scenes.xml"
+    # `video_path` need not exist; only `.absolute().as_uri()` is called on it.
+    write_scene_list_fcpx(
+        output_path=output_path,
+        scene_list=scenes,
+        video_path=tmp_path / "fake_video.mp4",
+        frame_rate=_FPS_NTSC,
+        frame_size=(1280, 544),
+    )
+
+    assert output_path.exists()
+    assert output_path.read_text().startswith('<?xml version="1.0"')
+
+
 def test_write_scene_list_fcp7(tmp_path: Path):
     """FCP7 xmeml declares version 5, a clipitem per scene, and a shared <file id> reference."""
     scenes = _fake_scenes(_FPS_NTSC, [(0, 48), (48, 96)])
@@ -478,6 +547,51 @@ def test_write_scene_list_fcp7_cfr_sets_ntsc_false(tmp_path: Path):
     assert ntsc is not None and ntsc.text == "False"
 
 
+def test_write_scene_list_fcp7_file_handle():
+    """FCP7 XML output accepts an open text file."""
+    scenes = _fake_scenes(_FPS_CFR, [(0, 30)])
+    buf = StringIO()
+    write_scene_list_fcp7(
+        buf,
+        scene_list=scenes,
+        video_path=Path("source.mp4"),
+        frame_rate=_FPS_CFR,
+        frame_size=(640, 360),
+    )
+    text = buf.getvalue()
+    assert text.startswith('<?xml version="1.0"')
+
+
+def test_write_scene_list_fcp7_accepts_str_path(tmp_path: Path):
+    """FCP7 XML output accepts a string path."""
+    scenes = _fake_scenes(_FPS_CFR, [(0, 30)])
+    output_path = tmp_path / "scenes.xml"
+    write_scene_list_fcp7(
+        output_path=str(output_path),
+        scene_list=scenes,
+        video_path=tmp_path / "source.mp4",
+        frame_rate=_FPS_CFR,
+        frame_size=(640, 360),
+    )
+    assert output_path.exists()
+    assert output_path.read_text().startswith('<?xml version="1.0"')
+
+
+def test_write_scene_list_fcp7_accepts_path(tmp_path: Path):
+    """FCP7 XML output accepts a `Path`."""
+    scenes = _fake_scenes(_FPS_CFR, [(0, 30)])
+    output_path = tmp_path / "scenes.xml"
+    write_scene_list_fcp7(
+        output_path=output_path,
+        scene_list=scenes,
+        video_path=tmp_path / "source.mp4",
+        frame_rate=_FPS_CFR,
+        frame_size=(640, 360),
+    )
+    assert output_path.exists()
+    assert output_path.read_text().startswith('<?xml version="1.0"')
+
+
 def test_write_scene_list_otio(tmp_path: Path):
     """OTIO output is valid JSON with a Timeline.1 schema and one Clip.2 per scene per track."""
     scenes = _fake_scenes(_FPS_NTSC, [(24, 72), (72, 120)])
@@ -545,3 +659,51 @@ def test_write_scene_list_otio_rational_time_precision(tmp_path: Path):
             for key in ("start_time", "duration"):
                 value = clip["source_range"][key]["value"]
                 assert value == round(value, 6), f"value {value!r} carries sub-10us float drift"
+
+
+def test_write_scene_list_otio_file_handle(tmp_path: Path):
+    """OTIO output accepts an open text file."""
+    scenes = _fake_scenes(_FPS_NTSC, [(24, 72), (72, 120)])
+    buf = StringIO()
+    write_scene_list_otio(
+        output_path=buf,
+        scene_list=scenes,
+        video_path=tmp_path / "clip.mp4",
+        frame_rate=_FPS_NTSC,
+        name="my-timeline",
+    )
+
+    doc = json.loads(buf.getvalue())
+    assert doc["OTIO_SCHEMA"] == "Timeline.1"
+
+
+def test_write_scene_list_otio_accepts_str_path(tmp_path: Path):
+    """OTIO output accepts a string path."""
+    scenes = _fake_scenes(_FPS_NTSC, [(24, 72), (72, 120)])
+    output_path = tmp_path / "scenes.otio"
+    write_scene_list_otio(
+        output_path=str(output_path),
+        scene_list=scenes,
+        video_path=tmp_path / "clip.mp4",
+        frame_rate=_FPS_NTSC,
+        name="my-timeline",
+    )
+
+    doc = json.loads(output_path.read_text())
+    assert doc["OTIO_SCHEMA"] == "Timeline.1"
+
+
+def test_write_scene_list_otio_accepts_path(tmp_path: Path):
+    """OTIO output accepts a `Path`."""
+    scenes = _fake_scenes(_FPS_NTSC, [(24, 72), (72, 120)])
+    output_path = tmp_path / "scenes.otio"
+    write_scene_list_otio(
+        output_path=output_path,
+        scene_list=scenes,
+        video_path=tmp_path / "clip.mp4",
+        frame_rate=_FPS_NTSC,
+        name="my-timeline",
+    )
+
+    doc = json.loads(output_path.read_text())
+    assert doc["OTIO_SCHEMA"] == "Timeline.1"
diff --git a/website/pages/changelog.md b/website/pages/changelog.md
index 99eb2ac4..3f840037 100644
--- a/website/pages/changelog.md
+++ b/website/pages/changelog.md
@@ -793,3 +793,4 @@ Development
 ## PySceneDetect 0.8 (TBD)
 
 - [feature] Added `save-keyframes` command to export detected cuts using `# keyframe format v1` for Aegisub-compatible tools [#534](https://github.com/Breakthrough/PySceneDetect/issues/534). Frame numbers are currently approximate for VFR input [#569](https://github.com/Breakthrough/PySceneDetect/issues/569)
+- [api] Scene-list output functions for EDL, FCPXML, FCP7 XML, and OTIO now accept an open text file handle, a string path, or a `pathlib.Path`; paths are opened and closed automatically [#567](https://github.com/Breakthrough/PySceneDetect/issues/567)