Kneecap shortlisted for two Academy nominations

The Irish-language film Kneecap has been shortlisted for two Academy Award nominations.

It has been included among 15 films shortlisted for the International Feature category in the 2025 Oscars, after The Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) selected the film for Ireland’s official submission.

The trio’s Sick in the Head has also been shortlisted with 14 others for Best Original Song.

The film is based on a semi-fictionalised account of how the west Belfast rap group was formed.

Nominations will be announced on 17 January ahead of the awards ceremony, set to take place on 2 March in Los Angeles.

The film dominated the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), winning seven awards, including Best British Independent Film.

It also won Best Debut Screenwriter for Rich Peppiatt and Best Joint Lead for trio Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh.

Kneecap has made its way onto the 15-film shortlist from a longlist of 85 films from across the world.

In the nominations round, Academy members from all branches opt in to participate and must view all 15 shortlisted films to vote.

Other films in the International Feature category include the UK’s Santosh, France’s Emilia Pérez and Germany’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig.

Meanwhile, 89 songs were eligible in the Original Song category, with Academy members whittling them down to 15.

Other songs shortlisted include Robbie Williams’ Forbidden Road from his biopic Better Man; Saoirse Ronan and Nicholas Britell for Winter Coat from World War Two drama Blitz; and Beyond from Disney animation Moana 2.

Richard Williams, chief executive of Northern Ireland Screen, said: “To make it onto an Oscar shortlist is no mean feat, 85 countries or regions submitted films that were eligible for consideration in the International Feature Film category.

“We are delighted to see Kneecap make the shortlist of 15.

“This is testament not only to the incredible talent and creativity of the filmmakers and performers but also to the rich storytelling potential of Northern Ireland,” he added.

Rap group Kneecap was formed in 2017 by three friends who go by the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.

The three-piece have faced disapproval for their politically-charged lyrics and ease with controversy – they’ve previously admitted they like “to get people riled up”.

The idea for a film was first conceived in 2019 when director Rich Peppiatt watched the group perform in Belfast.

Filmed in Belfast and Dundalk, Peppiatt previously told BBC News NI: “It’s definitely more controversial than the usual movies that come out of Northern Ireland.”

Set in west Belfast in 2019, the film is a dramatised, comedic account of how the group was formed.

It became the first Irish-language film to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the NEXT audience award.

The film met rave reviews upon its premiere, with The Hollywood Reporter describing it as “gleefully irreverent”.

The Irish Film & Television Academy has selected Kneecap to represent Ireland in the International Feature Film category at the upcoming 97th annual Academy Awards.