Belfast rappers Kneecap to premiere new film with Michael Fassbender at Sundance Film Festival
Semi-autobiographical flick co-starring Irish Oscar nominee is the first-ever Irish language film to be selected for the festival
by Aoife MoriartyCulture Writer · BUZZBelfast rappers Kneecap are set to premiere their new movie at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival next month.
The upcoming flick – told via the Irish language - stars rap trio Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí in their acting debuts alongside two-time Oscar nominee Michael Fassbender.
Simply called Kneecap, the new film also stars Hidden Assets' Simone Kirby and Josie Walker (Belfast, The Wonder).
The eagerly-anticipated project will debut on the opening night of the renowned festival in Utah on Thursday, 18 January.
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Set in West Belfast in 2019, Kneecap tells the story of how the unconventional music group came together and went on to “change the sound of Irish music forever”.
The new movie is the first-ever Irish language film to be selected for the festival.
It's also the first non-US film to ever be selected for the NEXT section of the Sundance film programme, which features "pure, bold works distinguished by an innovative, forward-thinking approach to story-telling”, according to the festival itself.
Kneecap is the feature film debut of writer-director Rich Peppiatt, following his award-winning 2014 documentary One Rogue Reporter, which was released globally on Netflix.
Speaking about the flick's upcoming world premiere at Sundance, Peppiatt said: "When I first set out to make a film in a language I didn't speak, set in a place I'm not from, little could I have imagined four years later we would be introducing Kneecap the movie to the world at the Mecca of independent cinema.
"It's an honour to be breaking new ground for Irish language cinema with a film that surprises and provokes every bit as much as Kneecap's music.”
The band, consisting of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí, said: “We are buzzing to be premiering at Sundance. Wherever we go we aim to smash preconceptions about cultural identity, language and highlight the role of the working classes to overthrow oppressive power.
"To now bring this message from the streets of West Belfast to the big screen is f**king excellent. We're immensely proud of the film and can't wait to get it to cinemas around the world.”
While producer Trevor Birney of Fine Point Films added: “This is the first Irish language film to have been selected by Sundance, which is simply incredible not only for Rich Peppiatt and Kneecap but for Fine Point and the film industry in Ireland, north and south.
"I was excited about this film from the moment [director] Rich came to me with the idea and we began to work together with the band on making it happen. Thanks to the incredible crew and, of course, the funders who supported Rich’s vision. Go raibh maith agaibh."
Since 2017, Kneecap have been gaining attention and critical acclaim for their skillful blend of Irish and English rap about the gritty realities of growing up in post-Troubles Belfast.
Their most recent track, Better Way to Live featuring Grian Chatten, was released last month with their debut album set to be released early next year. They will play sold-out dates in Belfast, Dublin and Derry later this month.
The upcoming flick was funded by Northern Ireland Screen, the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Screen Ireland, the BFI, Coimisiún na Meán and TG4, with backing from Great Point Media.
Kneecap will be released in Irish cinemas in 2024.