Ireland is submitting Kneecap as its 2025 Oscars entry for Best International Feature.
Today (August 2), the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) made the announcement on social media. “An exciting journey ahead,” they write, marking the first bid for the 2025 Oscars this year.
Comhghairdeas #Kneecap Congratulations!
IFTA has selected KNEECAP to represent Ireland in the 97th Oscars @TheAcademy International Feature category. An exciting journey ahead.
@KNEECAPCEOL @richpeppiatt @WildCardDistribIn Irish Cinemas August 8th pic.twitter.com/RypCZ7xwMh
— Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) (@IFTA) August 2, 2024
The film’s leads – and NME Cover artists – Kneecap took a jab at the honour, joking that “c*nts are easily pleased” since it’s only their first time acting.
Well well….first time acting…c*nts are easily pleased 😂 pic.twitter.com/fo82AEI1r6
— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) August 2, 2024
The news comes hot off the trails of the Fontaines D.C. announcement today – the Irish rock group will headline a massive Finsbury Park concert, with Kneecap and Amyl and the Sniffers as special guest performers. The gig is due to take place on Saturday July 5, 2025, marking the Irish band’s biggest headline performance to date.
On playing themselves in Kneecap, which also stars Michael Fassbender, member DJ Próvaí told NME: “It needed to feel genuine. If it didn’t feel like something we would do, we just went, ‘No chance’.” The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January this year, making it the first Irish film to do so. It went on to clinch the NEXT Audience Award at the festival.
Kneecap are also featured on the cover of NME’s July/August 2024 magazine issue. Subscribe here for more information about the magazine and exclusive queue jump opportunities, where readers can get their hands on a copy before anyone else.
In NME’s five-star review of Kneecap, Andrew Trendell wrote: “Unapologetically ballsy and brave, Kneecap has no business being as good as it is – not only one of the standout films of 2024, but arguably one of the best music biopics of all time. So, with much thought and time to percolate, here’s your full analysis: Holy shit, fuck me, what a film.”