Kneecap | Great 8
‘Great 8’ showcase ground-breaking rap trio KNEECAP to make big-screen debut; Charades acquires for International Sales; Curzon and Wildcard secured rights for UK and Ireland
Kneecap, a new film inspired by the birth of ground breaking Irish-language rap group, completed shooting this month. The raucous anti-establishment comedy features the eponymous trio, who play heightened versions of their own lives against the backdrop of post-Troubles Belfast.
Described by the LA Times as “reminiscent of the early Eminem”, the band is gaining critical acclaim for their artful blend of Irish and English rap about the gritty reality of growing up in Northern Ireland.
Written and directed by multi award-winning filmmaker Rich Peppiatt, Kneecap is produced by Jack Tarling at Mother Tongues Films and Trevor Birney of Fine Point Films, with Patrick O’Neill at Wildcard acting as co-producer. The UK-Ireland co-production is financed by BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, TG4 and Northern Ireland Screen, in association with Great Point Media and Curzon.
Rich Peppiatt follows up his award-winning satirical documentary One Rogue Reporter, with his first live-action feature.
French sales and co-production house Charades has boarded for world-wide sales, with Curzon and Wildcard distributing in the UK and in Ireland.
The film will be among the titles selected for this year’s Great 8, the annual Cannes buyers’ showcase of UK films from emerging directors.
Writer / director Rich Peppiatt said:
“For those who already know Kneecap as musicians, I promise this will be a film true to their hedonistic and anarchic soul. And for those who haven’t yet heard of Kneecap, well, buckle up…”
Kneecap said:
"We're buzzing to show people a side of Belfast that isn't about guns, bombs and death. To give an insight into the youth culture that has been born out of that madness - we all needed a break from it and there's revenge in our laughter. This is the North of Ireland and the importance of culture and community in the 21st Century."
Charades’ co-founder Carole Baraton said:
“Rich's film has stood out for us from the development stage through the Mother Tongue partnership, and we are extremely proud to see it through today. A showcase at the Great 8 in Cannes has always been a great gateway to the international market, we are thrilled to be part of it once again, and make the most of this political, fun and loud debut.”
Producer Trevor Birney, Fine Point Films said:
“I’ve been fascinated by Kneecap and the anarchic approach they take to life. The band may cause controversy but their antics belie an intelligence that is beyond their years and an amazing ability to lyrically convey what life is like for young people growing up in post-Troubles Belfast.”
Producer Jack Tarling, Mother Tongues Films said:
“When we founded Mother Tongues we tried to imagine the types of projects that might get sent to us. I'm pleased to say we failed miserably to predict something as wild as Kneecap!”
Mia Bays, Director of the BFI Film Fund said:
“We’re delighted to be supporting Rich Peppiatt and Kneecap’s riotous first fiction feature in collaboration with the producers and our partners in Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen. The film unites his and the band’s unique brand of humour in a raucous approach to their modern Belfast story. It’s exciting to play a role in bringing their post-Troubles world and sound to the screen, in a blend of Irish and English language, in line with how they rap and speak.”
Curzon said:
“Kneecap are infamous for their anti-establishment outlook, near-the-knuckle humour, and puckish charm, and with this film, they have managed to bottle all of that and lobbed it up onto the big screen. We are excited to unleash this riot of a film in cinemas.”
‘Great 8’ showcase ground-breaking rap trio KNEECAP to make big-screen debut; Charades acquires for International Sales; Curzon and Wildcard secured rights for UK and Ireland
Kneecap, a new film inspired by the birth of ground breaking Irish-language rap group, completed shooting this month. The raucous anti-establishment comedy features the eponymous trio, who play heightened versions of their own lives against the backdrop of post-Troubles Belfast.
Described by the LA Times as “reminiscent of the early Eminem”, the band is gaining critical acclaim for their artful blend of Irish and English rap about the gritty reality of growing up in Northern Ireland.
Written and directed by multi award-winning filmmaker Rich Peppiatt, Kneecap is produced by Jack Tarling at Mother Tongues Films and Trevor Birney of Fine Point Films, with Patrick O’Neill at Wildcard acting as co-producer. The UK-Ireland co-production is financed by BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, TG4 and Northern Ireland Screen, in association with Great Point Media and Curzon.
Rich Peppiatt follows up his award-winning satirical documentary One Rogue Reporter, with his first live-action feature.
French sales and co-production house Charades has boarded for world-wide sales, with Curzon and Wildcard distributing in the UK and in Ireland.
The film will be among the titles selected for this year’s Great 8, the annual Cannes buyers’ showcase of UK films from emerging directors.
Writer / director Rich Peppiatt said:
“For those who already know Kneecap as musicians, I promise this will be a film true to their hedonistic and anarchic soul. And for those who haven’t yet heard of Kneecap, well, buckle up…”
Kneecap said:
"We're buzzing to show people a side of Belfast that isn't about guns, bombs and death. To give an insight into the youth culture that has been born out of that madness - we all needed a break from it and there's revenge in our laughter. This is the North of Ireland and the importance of culture and community in the 21st Century."
Charades’ co-founder Carole Baraton said:
“Rich's film has stood out for us from the development stage through the Mother Tongue partnership, and we are extremely proud to see it through today. A showcase at the Great 8 in Cannes has always been a great gateway to the international market, we are thrilled to be part of it once again, and make the most of this political, fun and loud debut.”
Producer Trevor Birney, Fine Point Films said:
“I’ve been fascinated by Kneecap and the anarchic approach they take to life. The band may cause controversy but their antics belie an intelligence that is beyond their years and an amazing ability to lyrically convey what life is like for young people growing up in post-Troubles Belfast.”
Producer Jack Tarling, Mother Tongues Films said:
“When we founded Mother Tongues we tried to imagine the types of projects that might get sent to us. I'm pleased to say we failed miserably to predict something as wild as Kneecap!”
Mia Bays, Director of the BFI Film Fund said:
“We’re delighted to be supporting Rich Peppiatt and Kneecap’s riotous first fiction feature in collaboration with the producers and our partners in Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen. The film unites his and the band’s unique brand of humour in a raucous approach to their modern Belfast story. It’s exciting to play a role in bringing their post-Troubles world and sound to the screen, in a blend of Irish and English language, in line with how they rap and speak.”
Curzon said:
“Kneecap are infamous for their anti-establishment outlook, near-the-knuckle humour, and puckish charm, and with this film, they have managed to bottle all of that and lobbed it up onto the big screen. We are excited to unleash this riot of a film in cinemas.”
