Kneecap win big at the 2024 British Independent Film Awards

Kneecap has taken home seven awards including Best British Independent Film at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) last night.

The film Kneecap is set in post-Troubles Belfast and follows the eponymous rap group and how they became the unlikely figureheads of a civil rights movement to save and revitalise the Irish language.

It saw the acting debut of the group, made of musicians Móglaí Bap, Mo Chara, and DJ Próvaí, who won the Best Joint-Lead Performance award, while screenwriter Rich Peppiatt won Best Debut Screenwriter.

The film also won awards for Best Casting (Carla Stronge), Best Editing (Julian Ulrichs/Chris Gill), Best Music Supervision (Gary Welch/Jeanette Rehnstrom) and Best Original Music (Michael Asante).

Speaking after the awards, Móglaí Bap said: “The fact this movie now has a platform and resonates with people around the world, is something that is sending a strong message to people around the world that their indigenous native culture is important.”

“The fact this movie has a platform now and resonates with people around the world, is something that is sending a strong message to people around the world that their indigenous native culture is important.”

Bravo to tonight’s big winners, Kneecap.@KNEECAPCEOL pic.twitter.com/rIy8TfnWoZ

— BIFA (@BIFA_film) December 8, 2024

A world premiere was held at the Sundance Film Festival in January, where it became the first Irish language film to win an award. It was the opening film of this year’s Galway Film Fleadh and won three prizes including the Audience Award.

It also went on to be selected as Ireland’s candidate at the 2025 Oscars in the International Feature Film category.

Since then, Kneecap has surpassed €1 million in the box office, has been released on streaming platforms and is set to launch in African cinemas this month.