Kneecap (film)

Last updated

Kneecap
Directed byRich Peppiatt
Screenplay byRich Peppiatt
Story by
  • Rich Peppiatt
  • Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh
  • Naoise Ó Cairealláin
  • JJ Ó Dochartaigh
Produced by
  • Jack Tarling
  • Trevor Birney
Starring
CinematographyRyan Kernaghan
Edited by
  • Julian Ulrichs
  • Chris Gill
Music byMichael "Mikey J" Asante
Production
companies
Distributed by
  • Wildcard Distribution [1] (Ireland)
  • Curzon Film [1] (United Kingdom)
Release dates
  • January 18, 2024 (2024-01-18)(Sundance)
  • August 2024 (2024-08)(United Kingdom and Ireland)
Running time
105 minutes
CountriesIreland
United Kingdom
LanguagesIrish
English

Kneecap is a 2024 comedy drama film describing the rise of Belfast-based hip-hop trio, Kneecap. The film stars the band members as themselves, as well as Michael Fassbender. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2024, the first film in the Irish language to do so.

Contents

Synopsis

Set in West Belfast in 2019, the film depicts how Kneecap came to be formed and created their sound. [2]

Cast

Production

Jack Tarling and Trevor Birney produce for Mother Tongues and Fine Point Films, respectively. Rich Peppiatt wrote and directed the film despite not being an Irish-speaker himself. [3] For Peppiatt, it marks his feature film directing debut having previously directed the music video for the band's single, "Guilty Conscience". [4]

Casting

The band themselves are cast in the film in their acting debuts. They feature alongside experienced Irish actors such as Michael Fassbender, Josie Walker and Simone Kirby. [5]

Filming

Principal photography took place on location in Belfast in May 2023. [6] [7]

Release

The film premiered in the Next section at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival, the first Irish-language film to do so, on January 18, 2024. [8] Prior to, Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights for North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Turkey and Middle East to the film. [9] [1] Sony Pictures Classics later scheduled the film for a theatrical release in the United States on August 2, 2024. [10] The film is also scheduled to be the opening film at Sundance's London edition on June 6, 2024 and is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom and Ireland in August 2024. [11]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
Sundance Film Festival 26 January 2024 NEXT Audience AwardKneecapWon [12]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Ritman, Alex (19 January 2024). "'Kneecap' Biopic Acquired by Sony Pictures Classics in First Major Sundance Sale". Variety . Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  2. O'Broin, Cian (6 December 2023). "Belfast rap group Kneecap make history with new film becoming first Irish language movie at Sundance Festival". Independent.ie. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  3. Clarke, Donald (6 December 2023). "Kneecap: Irish rap group's biopic to have world premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2024". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  4. Keslassy, Elsa; Yossman, KJ (27 October 2023). "Michael Fassbender to Star in Biopic About Irish Rap Group Kneecap (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  5. Corscadden, Jane (6 December 2023). "Film based on Kneecap's origin story to premiere at Sundance Film Festival in US". Belfast Live. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  6. Roy, David (6 December 2023). "Kneecap: Irish rap group's movie to premiere at Sundance Film Festival". Irish News. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  7. Keslassy, Elsa (9 May 2023). "Irish Rap Band Kneecap to Be Portrayed in Rich Peppiatt's Raucous Comedy Slated for GREAT 8 Showcase, Boarded by Charades, Curzon (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  8. "Irish-language film Kneecap to have world premiere at Sundance Film Festival in US". RTE. 7 December 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  9. D'Alessandro, Anthony (19 January 2024). "Sony Pictures Classics Takes Michael Fassbender Irish Rap Group Movie 'Kneecap' At Sundance". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  10. Grobar, Matt (12 April 2024). "Sony Pictures Classics Sets Summer Launch For Sundance Music Doc 'Kneecap'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  11. Ramachandran, Naman (4 April 2024). "'Kneecap,' 'Dìdi' to Bookend Sundance London". Variety . Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  12. "The Complete List of 2024 Sundance Film Festival Award Winners". Sundance Film Festival. 26 January 2024.