The Irish-language film Kneecap has been shortlisted for two Academy Award nominations, marking a significant achievement in the film’s journey toward recognition at the 2025 Oscars.
The film has been selected as one of the 15 films in the running for the Best International Feature category after being chosen by The Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) as Ireland’s official submission.
Additionally, Kneecap’s original song “Sick in the Head” has been shortlisted for Best Original Song, alongside 14 other contenders.
Kneecap is a semi-fictionalized account of the formation of the west Belfast rap group of the same name.
It has gained significant recognition, including a major win at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), where it took home the prize for Best British Independent Film.
The film also won Best Debut Screenwriter for Rich Peppiatt, and Best Joint Lead for the trio of actors Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh.
The film made it onto the 15-film shortlist after a competitive selection process, with 85 films initially considered from across the world.
Academy members will vote on the nominations after viewing all 15 shortlisted films.
Other notable contenders in the International Feature category include the UK’s Santosh, France’s Emilia Pérez, and Germany’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig.
Meanwhile, 89 songs were eligible for the Best Original Song category, with 15 making the final shortlist.
Other nominated songs include Robbie Williams’ Forbidden Road from his biopic Better Man, Saoirse Ronan and Nicholas Britell’s Winter Coat from the World War Two drama Blitz, and Beyond from Disney’s Moana 2.
Richard Williams, chief executive of Northern Ireland Screen, expressed pride in Kneecap’s achievements, noting the difficulty of making it onto the Oscar shortlist, with 85 countries or regions submitting eligible films.
He praised the talent and creativity of the filmmakers and performers, highlighting the rich storytelling potential of Northern Ireland.
Nominations for the 2025 Oscars will be announced on January 17, with the awards ceremony scheduled for March 2 in Los Angeles.
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