Kneecap Film As Ireland’s Entry For Best International Film

Kneecap movie is selected by the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) as Ireland’s entry for “best international film” at the Oscars. It is an Irish language film and seems capable of winning the award, thinks IFTA.

Taking An Cailin Ciuin (The Quiet Girl) as a model, the movie is set to enter one of the world’s biggest awards to gain worldwide recognition. An Cailin Ciuin came out in 2023 as the first Irish-language nominee for the “International Feature Film Oscar” after IFTA decided to send for the said category.

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Kneecap is all set to open in Irish cinemas on 8th August, Thursday while its release is scheduled today in the US.

Kneecap is the story of a Belfast rap trio and follows the storyline of their “riotous and ground-breaking” origin story. It has made its name at the Sundance Film Festival (US) and the Galway Film Fleadh.

Kneecap film is co-written by Mo Chara, DJ Provai and Moglai Bap along with direction from Rich Peppiatt. The actors in the movie include Michael Fassbender, Simone Kirby, Adam Best, Fionnuala Flaherty, Josie Walker and Jessica Reynolds.

Its producers include London’s Mother Tongues Films, Dublin Wildcard Distribution, Belfast’s Fine Point Films, and the British Film Institute (BFI). The organisations that funded the film are Northern Ireland Screen, TG4, the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Fis Eireann/Screen Ireland, and Coimisiun na Mean.

The Oscars will take place on 2nd March 2025 in Los Angeles. The five final nominees for the category “Best International Film” will be announced on 17 January 2025, Friday. That’s why Ireland’s entry for this category needs to be there before 17 December 2024, Tuesday.

Various perspectives for Kneecap’s selection for Oscar

The writer-director Rich Peppiatt said, “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”.

Peppiatt found it a proud moment to declare that it is the biggest opportunity one can get to make the nation proud all over the globe. “It is an absolute privilege”, he said. He acknowledged the support from Mile Buiochas to IFTA and everyone who watched the movie and loved it.

The co-writer Mo Chara did not hold back from paying his gratitude, primarily to IFTA, for selecting the movie from Ireland as its top choice for Oscar submission. He is happy that Irish movies create an effect on people since they have “great stuff” that needs to be promoted around the planet.

He is on cloud nine, saying that the culture that was once snubbed and almost considered extinct, would now be on the world’s biggest stage, which is an honour in itself.

Moglai Bap corroborated the same fact by admitting that although the movie is Irish, it is great to see that it has been able to engage freshly with Irish youngsters. This puts the movie’s own stamp on the language.

Also, he was of the view that America resonates smoothly on an international level. Kneecap getting accredited at such a platform would assist the Irish culture and language to get recognition of its own. The relationship seems to be indigenous and native when a blend of America and Ireland would be noticed.

Bap confirmed that Kneecap is able to vibe well with most of the audience at all levels. It is the intrinsic value that the movie offers and a “bit more substance”. Ireland’s entry matches the colours of people from all walks of life, yet, they are feeling proud of it.