"Kneecap" won the Best Irish Film prize during the Galway Film Fleadh's annual awards ceremony, which took place on Sunday, July 14.
The Irish language film, a semi-autobiographical tale from the Belfast-based rap trio of the same name, also won the Audience Award and the Irish Language Feature Film Award, a feat that has never happened at the Fleadh in 36 years.
The Audience Award goes to KNEECAP
Director/Writer: Rich Peppiatt
Producers: Trevor Birney, Jack Tarling, Patrick O’Neill pic.twitter.com/7kyugHZYku
— Galway Film Fleadh (@GalwayFilm) July 14, 2024
Rich Peppiatt, the film's director and writer, said on X after the award sweep: "Go raibh míle to Miriam, Maeve McGrath, & everyone who makes Galway Film Fleadh such a special celebration of Irish film.
"No more fitting a final festival stop before 'Kneecap' hits cinemas around the world."
Go raibh míle to Miriam, @maevemcg & the everyone who makes @GalwayFilm such a special celebration of Irish film. No more fitting a final festival stop before @KNEECAPCEOL hits cinemas around the world. ?? ? https://t.co/K0DzudjR7J
— Rich Peppiatt (@richpeppiatt) July 15, 2024
With a cheeky nod to England's loss to Spain in the 2024 Euro, Trevor Birney, one of the film's producers, joked on Sunday that Peppiatt was "the only Englishman who'll get a hat trick tonight!"
The only Englishman who’ll get a hat trick tonight!! Rich Peppiatt and Kneecap win big at @GalwayFilm @KNEECAPCEOL @WildCardDistrib pic.twitter.com/Aow8mcVMNt
— Trevor Birney (@trevorbirney) July 14, 2024
Sony Pictures Classics, which acquired all rights to "Kneecap" for North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Turkey, and the Middle East earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, also celebrated the film's three awards.
WINNER: Best Irish Film, Best Irish Language Film and Audience Award at @GalwayFilm ???#KneecapFilm hits US theaters August 2. pic.twitter.com/7Cq1AVRVDY
— Sony Pictures Classics (@sonyclassics) July 15, 2024
"Kneecap" marked its Irish premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh on Tuesday, July 9.
Describing "Kneecap," the Irish film festival said: "Based on the origin story of the riotous and ground-breaking Irish-language rap trio KNEECAP, the film stars the band’s Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí in their acting debuts alongside Academy Award nominated Michael Fassbender.
"Set in West Belfast in 2019, it chronicles how fate brings the trio together and how they then go on to 'change the sound of Irish music forever.'"
Naoise Ó’Caireallán, Liam Óg O’Hannaidh, DJ Próvaí - who together make up the Irish language rap trio Kneecap - star in the film opposite Michael Fassbender, Simone Kirby, Fionnuala Flaherty, Josie Walker and Jessica Reynolds.
Táimid réidh! Chuir @KNEECAPCEOL tús spleodrach le Fleadh Scannán na Gaillimhe inniu ag @THTG ?
The Irish Premiere of their film ‘KNEECAP’ will open the festival tonight at a sold out screening ?
Check out the full #FilmFleadh programme at https://t.co/Rk0zJNIj9x pic.twitter.com/KMjhafRvvO
— Galway Film Fleadh (@GalwayFilm) July 9, 2024
The Galway Film Fleadh accolades come after the movie's successful turn at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah earlier this year where it picked up the prestigious Audience Award.
Heading into the festival, "Kneecap" had the dual distinction of being the first Irish language film to be selected for Sundance, as well as the first non-US film to ever be selected for the festival’s NEXT section.
Sony Pictures Classics acquired the rights to "Kneeap" during Sundance, in what was labeled the 'first major sale' of the world-famous film festival.
Last month, Sony Pictures Classics announced that "Kneecap" will open in US theaters on August 2.
The band separately confirmed that their film will arrive in cinemas in Ireland on August 8, followed by cinemas in Scotland, Wales, and England on August 23.
The Belfast-based group said they'll be announcing when the film will arrive in international cinemas, including the US, soon enough. However, the staunchly pro-Palestinian group is adamant that their film will not be screened in Israel.
? OFFICIAL KNEECAP MOVIE TRAILER
“Every word of Irish spoken… is a bullet for Irish freedom” ?
? Coming to your local cinema across Ireland, Scotland, Wales & England ?
??: 8 August
?????????????????????: 23 August? rest…standby
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) June 6, 2024
?? No movies ❌ pic.twitter.com/wg8wGq10FF
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