Wildcard Distribution have released a clip from KNEECAP ahead of the film’s premiere at Sundance Film Festival today, Thursday January 18th.
Among the films premiering in Sundance Film Festival in Utah today is Rich Peppiatt’s KNEECAP. Screening as part of the festival’s NEXT strand, it is the first Irish language film selected by Sundance film festival.
Based on the origin story of 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 (Steve Jobs, 12 Years a Slave), Simone Kirby (Hidden Assets, Jimmy’s Hall) and Josie Walker (Belfast, The Wonder). Set in west Belfast in 2019, it chronicles how fate brings the trio together and the music that came from this.
KNEECAP is the first non-US film to ever be selected for the NEXT section of the Sundance festival. The festival describes selections for this section as “pure, bold works distinguished by an innovative, forward-thinking approach to story-telling”. The film is writer/director Rich Peppiatt’s first live-action feature following his satirical documentary One Rogue Reporter.
The film was produced by Jack Tarling and Trevor Birney for Fine Point Films and Mother Tongues Films, with Patrick O’Neill at Wildcard acting as co-producer. Funding for the film was provided by Northern Ireland Screen, the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Screen Ireland, the BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), Coimisiún na Meán and TG4, with backing from Great Point Media.
The Sundance Film Festival will take place from January 18th - 28th in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah with KNEECAP screening on the opening night. Anonymous Content (The Revenant) will be representing the film at the festival alongside sales agent Charades (Aftersun).
KNEECAP will be released in Irish cinemas by Wildcard and Curzon in 2024.
