All members of Kneecap – Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí – arrived tonight in their blue jeep waving Irish and Palestinian flags at the Light House Cinema in Smithfield, Dublin 7.
Kneecap is an Irish language biopic set in the West Belfast Gaeltacht Quarter in 2019 which follows the trio’s unlikely rise into figureheads of a Civil Rights movement to save their mother tongue – Irish.
Knecap arrive at the Dublin Premiere of their film at the Light House Cinema. Picture Andres Poveda
The comedy-drama sees the Kneecap trio – Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh – playing themselves in their acting debuts, alongside an ensemble cast including Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender, Josie Walker and Simone Kirby.
Speaking to the Irish Independent on the red carpet tonight, Móglaí Bap said the group didn’t think the movie would go beyond Belfast.
“People in America and outside of Ireland are enjoying it,” he said.
“We enjoyed [acting]. We got acting classes for six months,” he said, as Mo Chara added that the process of creating the movie was “good craic”.
Meanwhile, DJ Próvaí said: “There’s a lot of people looking into their own indigenous cultures a lot now after watching the film, Native Americans, the Aboriginals.
“Seeing there’s a lot of intrinsic value there – the culture and language.”
He added that their film might encourage more people to learn their native language after watching it.
“Duolingo probably owns us a 10pc share at least,” he joked.
Mr Ó Dochartaigh also said the recent unrest in Belfast is “not representative” of the Irish community.
“It’s not very representative of us as a community, as Irish people, because for long enough we were treated the same way when we were in England and other places around the world,” he said.
“And for people coming to Ireland and be treated the same way, it’s disgraceful.”
The Irish-language feature has recently been selected by the Irish Film & Television Academy as the Irish entry for the Oscar Best International Feature Film at the 97th annual Academy Awards next year, making it the second Irish-language movie to represent Ireland in the category after An Cailín Ciúin.
Kneecap director and former journalist Rich Peppiatt, best known for One Rouge Reporter, said the team knew they had a “special film”.
“If we get to the [Oscars] red carpet, you can imagine the carnage that the lads are going to bring with them so I’m not sure the Oscars are ready for that,” he said.
“They’re brilliant.”
The Oscar International Feature shortlist will be released on December 17, with the final five Nominees announced on January 17.
Kneecap made history last January when it premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival and won the NEXT Audience Award, making it the first Irish-language film to do so.
Meanwhile, the movie had its Irish premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh where it won three awards, including Best Irish Language Feature Film and Best Audience Award.
The group first made themselves known on the Irish music scene in 2017 with their single C.E.A.R.T. A.
They later released an EP 3CAG in June 2018 and their debut album Fine Art in June 2024. Their hits include Better Way to Live and Its Been Ages.
Kneecap will premiere in Irish cinemas on Thursday, August 8.