![Kneecap are an Irish hip hop trio from West Belfast, Northern Ireland, composed of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J.J. Ó Dochartaigh,[1] with the stage-names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí respectively.](https://www.irishnews.com/resizer/v2/6KGTYCPFM5HVRFW2SGQTUFNI6E.jpg?smart=true&auth=81e22c88005b59c0d5f7c7b9f66dcf47f9afd94108b43a1301894b0044bb3281&width=6000&height=3375)
The Kneecap movie has been nominated for six Bafta awards including in the prestigious ‘Outstanding British Film’ category.
Directed by Rich Peppiatt and released in cinemas last year, the comedy drama tells a semi-fictionalised account of the rise to fame of Kneecap, the Belfast hip-hop trio whose lyrics are a mix of both English and the Irish language.
The longlist for the Baftas was released earlier this month, with Kneecap named in the running for seven categories.
On Wednesday it was confirmed that the movie, which is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime, has officially been nominated in six categories.
It is competing for Outstanding British Film, which celebrates “exceptional creativity and innovation”, and is up against competition in the category including Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II; Edward Berger’s clerical drama Conclave, starring Ralph Fiennes; and Aradman Animations comedy Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
Kneecap has also been nominated for Film not in the English Language, and in the Casting and Editing categories.
The film has also earned Rich Peppiatt a nomination in both the Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer and Original Screenplay categories.
The nominations come just one day after the film, which was produced by Trevor Birney, was shortlisted in 17 categories for the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAS), which will take place at Dublin’s Royal Convention Centre on February 14.
The Bafta ceremony will be held two days later at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London.
Bafta CEO Jane Millichip said on Wednesday: “The 42 films nominated today span a fantastically broad spectrum of genres with enormous breadth in creative expression; from the most intimate character pieces to epic societal commentaries via genre-bending dramas, musicals and comedies.
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“The film industry has delivered in spades once again. We look forward to acknowledging this amazing body of work at the 2025 EE BAFTA Film Awards.”
This week also saw the Kneecap trio Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J.J Ó Dochartaigh win the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actor in an International Feature Film at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in California.
All eyes are now on the upcoming Academy Awards nominations announcement, as Kneecap has been shortlisted in two Oscar categories - Best International Feature and Best Original Song for Kneecap track Sick in the Head, which featured in the movie’s soundtrack.
The Oscar nominations are expected to be announced next week, after being delayed as a result of the devastating wildfires that have ravaged Los Angeles and killed at least 25 people.
