Ireland has submitted “Kneecap” to represent it in the international feature film category at the Oscars, making it the first country to do so in the race for the 2025 Academy Awards.
The early – and widely expected – move by the Irish Film and Television Academy is a strong vote of confidence for a film that made waves at Sundance, was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics, and has been lauded at festivals around the world over the past few months. The news of its submission was announced on Friday, the same day as the film’s US release (it opens in Ireland on August 8 and is expected to break box office records for an Irish film).
Written and directed by Rich Peppiatt, Kneecap is a raucous semi-autobiographical comedy about the outspoken Northern Irish hip-hop trio of the same name. The film follows the group as they create their own brand of Irish punk rap, blending Irish and English with electric energy and eventually becoming unlikely symbols of the civil rights movement to save their native tongue—all while battling the authorities, paramilitaries and their own seismic dose of drugs.
Kneecap – known by their stage names Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh), Móglaí Bap (Naoise Ó Cairealláin), and DJ Próvaí (JJ Ó Dochartaigh) – all play heightened versions of themselves in the film in acting roles for the first time, alongside their co-star Michael Fassbender.
“For a culture that has been brutally suppressed for so long — where the language was almost extinct — to now be on the biggest stage in the world is an absolute privilege,” said Chara of the film, while Babb noted that the film is “an international story and makes people think about their culture and their language, and think about the relationship they have with their native or mother tongue.”
“It’s more than just IFTA Kneecap mar a roghnaíseachú don Oscar – that’s very, very good… and we go raibh maith agat like Oscar!” added Profai (which in Irish means, “We are honoured that IFTA has chosen Kneecap as an Oscar shortlist – we are truly grateful… and thank you for the Oscar!”)
“Kneecap” was selected by the IFTA Selection Committee, including the Oscar-nominated actor. Stephen Rea (“The Crying Game”), award-winning directors Colm Baird (“The Quiet Girl”) and Lisa Mulcahy (“The Lies We Tell”), actors Liam Cunningham (“Game of Thrones”) and Brid Ní Níchín (“Rose and Frank”); and “Flora & Sun” producer Rebecca O’Flanagan.
“The Irish Academy is delighted to announce that Kneecap has been selected to represent Ireland in the International Feature Film category of the Oscars,” said Aine Moriarty, Chief Executive of the Irish Film Academy. “It is a powerful and highly creative film, with its bold and daring storytelling and its rousing on-screen performances. Never before has the Irish language and music been combined in such a rebellious and youthful challenge. We have no doubt that Kneecap will surprise and delight international audiences, and ultimately leave a unique mark on the international Academy members as well.”
“Since the beginning of the year when Kneecap premiered at Sundance, we have been humbled by the acclaim the film has received around the world,” added writer and director Rich Peppiatt. “But nothing has ever matched the reception we have received back home in Ireland. To have the opportunity to represent our nation on the biggest stage of cinema is an absolute privilege. Thank you to IFTA and everyone who has been involved and supported our little film.”
In his review, diverse “Nikkapp” was described as “a drug-fueled riot in the name of freedom, combining political substance with mass-pleasing entertainment.”
“Producers Trevor Birney, Jack Tarling and Patrick O’Neill said: “It is a great honour that Kneecap has been selected as Ireland’s Oscar-nominated film and to be announced on the eve of the film’s release in North America, Ireland and the UK is very welcome. “We would like to thank IFTA for selecting Kneecap and placing the film in such prestigious company – to be in a category that includes previous winners such as The Zone of Interest, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, The Lives of Others and Parasite is very exciting. We would like to thank everyone involved in the production of the film for all their hard work and dedication over the past few years. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but that can also be said about filmmaking!”
The nomination for “Kneecap” comes amid a period of continued growth for the Irish film industry and just two years after the country saw “The Quiet Girl” become the first Irish-language film to reach the nominations (“All Quiet on the Western Front” would eventually win).
Given the buzz that “Kneecap” has generated since Sundance, there are strong hopes that the film will follow in the footsteps of “The Quiet Girl” and make it to the ceremony. But there are also concerns that the film’s anti-establishment undertones, frequent drug references, and the band’s political views—including its outspoken support for Palestinian rights and repeated condemnation of Israeli attacks on Gaza—could pose a potential obstacle.
Kneecap was produced by Birney and Tarling for Fine Point Films and Mother Tongues Films, with O'Neill of Wildcard as co-producer. Funding for the film was provided by Northern Ireland Screen, the Irish Language Broadcasting Fund, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, the BFI (National Lottery funding grants), Coimisiún na Meán, TG4, Dias Feld and Kamila Serkebaeva, with support from Great Point Media.
The shortlist of international films nominated for the Oscars will be announced on December 17, and the final five nominees will be revealed on January 17, 2025. The 97th Academy Awards will be held in Los Angeles on March 3, 2025.
