Joe Turner
16 Feb 2025
A Cultural Milestone for British and Irish Identity
West Belfast rap group Kneecap made history at Sunday’s BAFTA, taking home a win in one of the six categories it was nominated for. This comes just after the film’s writer and director, Rich Peppiatt, claimed the prestigious award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director, or Producer.
“Kneecap is more than just a film,” Peppiatt shared. “It’s a movement and it’s about how everyone should have their language respected, they should have their culture respected , and they should have their homeland respected and so this award is dedicated to everyone out there who’s fighting that fight.”
Kneecap, a politically charged film, isn’t your traditional biopic. It chronicles the origins of the hip hop group, promoting Irish identity and unapologetically advocating for a united Ireland.
What makes this achievement even more significant is that the film is entirely in the Irish language, a tongue often thought to be in decline. Kneecap’s success marks a cultural victory, proving that Irish-language productions can compete on the global stage and that audiences are embracing culturally-rooted storytelling.
On the cultural impact, Peppiatt reflected: “The Irish language has always been passed down through music, poetry, and storytelling. To be part of that rich tradition with Kneecap – bringing this beautiful language and Irish cinema to a global audience – is a huge honour.”
Speaking on the red carpet before the ceremony, the band shared that the past year felt like a whirlwind. When asked about a potential sequel, Peppiatt humorously hinted, “Bridget Jones just released her fourth film,” leaving the possibility of Kneecap 2 open but unconfirmed.
The film, already a critical success, received nominations in five categories, including Original Screenplay, Casting, Film Not in the English Language, Editing, and Outstanding British Film. The trio has also bagged seven British Independent Film Awards (BIFA) and several other accolades in recent months.
Blimey will be featuring an in-depth look at Kneecap in the upcoming May issue of the magazine.