The Irish language feature film Kneecap, written and directed by Rich Peppiatt (One Rogue Reporter), has been selected to represent Ireland in the Oscar® International Feature Film category at the 97th annual Academy Awards.
The film, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, stars the members of the West Belfast rap trio Kneecap (Móglai Bap, Mo Chara and DJ Provaí) 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.
Writer/Director Rich Peppiatt commented, “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.”
Sony Pictures Classics is releasing Kneecap in the US on Friday August 2nd.
Kneecap was selected by Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA)’s 2024 Selection Committee, including Oscar® nominated actor Stephen Rea (The Crying Game, The English); award-winning directors Colm Bairéad (The Quiet Girl) and Lisa Mulcahy (Lies We Tell, Ridley Road); award-winning actors Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones, Hunger) and Bríd Ní Neachtain (Róise & Frank, The Banshees of Inisherin); and award-winning producer Rebecca O’Flanagan (Flora & Son, Viva).
The Oscar® International Feature shortlist will be announced on December 17th, and the final five Nominees will be announced on January 17th, 2025. The 97th Academy Awards ceremony (the Oscars®) takes place in Los Angeles on Sunday March 3rd, 2025.
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.