Kneecap Selected as Ireland’s Oscar® Entry for 2025, Featuring Iconic Local Locations
Ireland’s Oscar® Entry for 2025 Features Iconic Local Locations
Major boost for Irish cinema with Kneecap movie
In a major boost for Irish cinema, the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) has announced that the Irish-language film Kneecap will represent Ireland in the International Feature Film category at the 97th Academy Awards. This marks a proud moment for Irish film and shines a spotlight on several distinctive locations across Ireland that were featured in the film.
Kneecap, directed by Rich Peppiatt, best known for One Rogue Reporter, showcases the vibrant story of the West Belfast rap trio Kneecap. The film stars the band members Móglai Bap, Mo Chara, and DJ Provaí, alongside an impressive ensemble including Oscar® nominee Michael Fassbender, Simone Kirby, Josie Walker, Fionnuala Flaherty, Jessica Reynolds, and Adam Best.
West Belfast in 2019
Story unfolds in West Belfast in 2019, following the intersection of Belfast schoolteacher JJ with the dynamic hip hop group Naoise and Liam Óg. The film’s unique portrayal of Irish punk rap, blending Irish and English with electric energy, captures a cultural movement dedicated to preserving the Irish language and challenging societal norms.
Film’s appeal extends beyond its narrative, thanks in part to its use of diverse and evocative locations. Notably, the film features a popular music venue and a quiet residential street in Dundalk, a charming seaside village on the Cooley Peninsula, and a scenic beach in South Louth. These locations, now poised for a global audience, add a distinctive local flavor to the film’s portrayal of Irish culture and community.
IFTA’s 2024 Selection Committee, which includes prominent figures such as 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), and acclaimed actors Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones, Hunger) and Bríd Ní Neachtain (Róise & Frank, The Banshees of Inisherin), chose Kneecap for its exceptional contribution to Irish cinema.
Kneecap expressed their excitement
The band members of Kneecap expressed their excitement and gratitude in response to the news. Mo Chara remarked, “We want to thank IFTA for selecting our film to be the Irish submission for an Oscar …..that’s sound of yous. It’s obviously great that films in the Irish language are having some kind of effect on people, you had An Cailín Ciúin and stuff. 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.”
DJ Provaí 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 translates to, “We are honoured that IFTA has chosen Kneecap as its Oscar shortlist – we are truly grateful… and thank you for the Oscar!”
Móglai Bap highlighted the film’s international resonance, stating, “Obviously the movie is about the Irish language in Ireland, about young people reengaging with the language and putting their own stamp on it. One thing we’ve noticed in America is that it resonates internationally.
Culture and Language
It’s an international story and makes people reflect on their own culture and language, and consider their relationship 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.”
The Oscar® International Feature shortlist will be announced on December 17, 2024, with the final five nominees revealed on January 17, 2025. The 97th Academy Awards ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on March 3, 2025. As Kneecap prepares for this prestigious stage, the film’s global recognition brings a well-deserved spotlight to Ireland’s rich cultural heritage and cinematic talent.
