“Kneecap,” the Irish language biopic about the West Belfast rap trio of the same name, has been selected by the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) to represent Ireland in the International Feature Film category at the upcoming 97th annual Academy Awards.
Written and directed by Rich Peppiatt, the highly-acclaimed film stars the members of Kneecap (Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Próvaí) alongside an ensemble cast including Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender, Simone Kirby, Josie Walker, Fionnuala Flaherty, Jessica Reynolds and Adam Best.
Set in West Belfast in 2019, when fate brings Belfast schoolteacher JJ into the orbit of Naoise and Liam Óg, the needle drops on a hip hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish language, the trio create their own genre of Irish punk rap, melding the Irish and English language with electrifying energy. Their writing and performance reimagine what rap can be as a creative and cultural force, rooted in community.
Kneecap ultimately become the unlikely figureheads of a Civil Rights movement to save their mother tongue, upending preconceptions about language and place and spearheading a cultural revival and interest from their legions of young followers.
The film received its World Premiere at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival in January this year, where it won a NEXT Audience Award, the first Irish language film to win at the festival. It went on to play at Sundance London, and was the opening film of Galway Film Fleadh, where it won three prizes including the Audience Award.
The film was selected for the Oscars by IFTA’s 2024 Selection Committee, including Oscar nominated actor Stephen Rea (“The Crying Game”); award-winning directors Colm Bairéad “(The Quiet Girl”) and Lisa Mulcahy (“Lies We Tell”); award-winning actors Liam Cunningham (“Game of Thrones”) and Bríd Ní Neachtain (“The Banshees of Inisherin”); and award-winning producer Rebecca O’Flanagan (“Flora & Son”).
Comhghairdeas #Kneecap Congratulations!
IFTA has selected KNEECAP to represent Ireland in the 97th Oscars @TheAcademy International Feature category. An exciting journey ahead.
@KNEECAPCEOL @richpeppiatt @WildCardDistribIn Irish Cinemas August 8th pic.twitter.com/RypCZ7xwMh
— Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) (@IFTA) August 2, 2024
Ireland is the first country to submit a film in the race to the 2025 Academy Awards, reports Variety.
IFTA Academy CEO, Áine Moriarty said: “The Irish Academy is delighted to announce ‘Kneecap’ to represent Ireland in the Oscar International Feature Film category. What a brilliantly creative powerhouse of a film, with its bold and fearless storytelling and its raw and boisterous screen performances.
“Nowhere before has filmmaking brought together the Irish language and music in such rebellious and youthful defiance. We have no doubt that ‘Kneecap’ will both surprise and entertain international audiences, and ultimately leave its unique mark on international Academy Members too.”
“Kneecap” joins a stellar list of Irish-made films selected by IFTA to represent Ireland in the Oscar International Feature category over the years. In 2023, the Irish language film “An Cailín Ciúin/The Quiet Girl” became an Oscar nomination; and in 2016, “Viva,”a Spanish language film, was Oscar shortlisted.
Commenting on the honor, Peppiatt said: “Since the start of the year when Kneecap premiered in Sundance we’ve been humbled by the grá the film has received around the world. But nothing hits quite like the reception we’ve had at home in Ireland. To get the opportunity to represent our nation on the biggest film stage of them all is an absolute privilege. Míle Buíochas to IFTA and everyone who’s been part of and supported our wee film.”
Mo Chara added: “For a culture that was so brutally oppressed for so long — the language was almost driven to extinction — now it’s on the biggest stage of the world and it’s an absolute privilege.”
MóglaíBap said that the film is “an international story and makes people reflect on their own culture and language, and to consider the relationship they have with their indigenous or native language. It comes at a time when people are looking for something with a bit more substance, a bit more intrinsic value. That’s the beauty of this movie, we’re meeting people from all walks of life and it’s resonating and they’re leaving the movie feeling proud about their own identity.”
DJ Próvaí added, “Is mór an onóir dúinn gur roghnaigh IFTA Kneecap mar a roghnaíseachú don Oscar – tá muid fíor bhuíoch astu… agus go raibh maith agat as ucht an Oscar!” (which in Irish means, “We are honored that IFTA has chosen ‘Kneecap’ as its Oscar shortlist — we are truly grateful… and thank you for the Oscar!”)
Kneecap was produced by Trevor Birney and Jack Tarling for Fine Point Films and Mother Tongues Films, with Patrick O’Neill at Wildcard acting as Co-Producer. Funding for the film was provided by Northern Ireland Screen, the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, the BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), Coimisiún na Meán and TG4, Dias Feld and Kamila Serkebaeva, with backing from Great Point Media.
“Kneecap” was released in the US by Sony Pictures Classics on Friday, August 2. It will hit Irish cinemas from Wildcard Distribution on Thursday, August 8 and UK cinemas from Curzon on Friday, August 23.
The Oscars International Feature shortlist will be announced on December 17, and the final five nominees will be revealed on January 17, 2025. The 97th Academy Awards ceremony will takes place in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 3, 2025.
