Irish hip hop trio Kneecap could be heading to the Oscars as their highly-anticipated biopic film starring Michael Fassbender hits US theaters.
Kneecap, the band's self-titled Irish language feature , has been selected by The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) to represent Ireland in the International Feature Film category of the 97th annual Academy Awards.
The comedy/musical drama, set in 2019, is a semi-autobiographical account of the lives of the three group members, Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí, growing up in West Belfast . The film chronicles how the band was formed , despite interference from outside forces who were determined to squash their attempt at making rap music in Irish.
Speaking to IrishStar.com , Kneecap joked: "We're long-listed so we've more or less won. It'd be some job to even get onto the shortlist. We've heard you get a really good goodie bag ."
Móglaí Bap went on: "An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl) got to the Oscars last year so there's no reason why we can't. It'd be cool. That's what we've always wanted to do - push the Irish language into places it's never been before .
"An Cailín Ciúin has got to the Oscars, obviously, but in general we'd like to bring the language to these types of places and let Americans know that Irish is a real language . It's not just English with a funny accent."
An Cailín Ciúin secured a nomination in 2023 but ultimately lost to All Quiet On The Western Front. 'Kneecap' has already been met with international acclaim, receiving the Next Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival .
The film made history as the first Irish-language film to world premiere at the festival . It also won three out of three awards it was up for at Galway Film Fleadh. Kneecap was selected by IFTA’s 2024 Selection Committee, which includes award-winning Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham and The Banshees of Inisherin's Bríd Ní Neachtain.
“Since 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 ," said writer and director Rich Peppiatt.
"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."
IFTA Academy CEO Áine Moriarty described Kneecap as a " brilliantly creative powerhouse of a film " and praised its " bold and fearless storytelling and raw and boisterous performances... sure to make its mark on the Academy."
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Kneecap will know their Hollywood fate when the Academy announce the shortlist for Best International Feature on December 17. The Academy Awards are due to take place on March 3, 2025.
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The film hits US cinemas on August 2 and Irish cinemas on August 8. Kneecap’s debut studio album, ‘Fine Art’, is out now.
Reviews on Rotten Tomatoes have dubbed the movie a hit with a 95 percent rating on the platform. One reviewer wrote: "This blistering, funny, and irreducibly Gaelic romp isn’t to be missed."
Another said: "Both brutally funny and deadly serious, “Kneecap” is a riotous, wildly over-the-top but dramatically trenchant tale of life and culture."
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