The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) has selected Irish language feature Kneecap selected to represent Ireland in the International Feature Film category oft the 97th annual Academy Awards.
The film, written and directed by Rich Peppiatt (One Rogue Reporter) stars the members of the West Belfast rap trio Kneecap ic 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.
Kneecap was selected by IFTA’s 2024 Selection Committee, which includes 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).
Set in West Belfast in 2019, the drama revolves around hip hop trio who rap 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.
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.
Sony Pictures Classics are releasing Kneecap in the U.S. August 2, and it will hit Irish cinemas from Wildcard Distribution on August 8. Curzon will release the film in the UK on Friday 23rd August.
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