Kneecap to screen around the world in major deal after Sundance debut

The Irish-language film Kneecap, telling the story of the Belfast rap trio of the same name, has been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics for release in North America and other major markets around the world.

Speaking to RTÉ, producer Trevor Birney, from Belfast, said: “The film has now been bought by Sony Pictures Classics.

“These guys are behind the films you have known and loved over the last 20 years. And that means that Kneecap the film is going to be seen in 200 cinemas in America this summer. They are going to roll Kneecap out across the world.”

He added: “That is just phenomenal, not only for Kneecap, which I am so happy for, but for Irish film and for the little community of producers in Belfast.”

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“We have had huge success with Game of Thrones and Derry Girls, but this is about indigenous film production, indigenous producers, indigenous crews, making independent film.

“I think this is a really break-out moment for Belfast, for the film community and I just want to pay tribute to them all and say our success is their success and I am delighted for everyone at home in Belfast.

“I think this film will mark a generational shift for film production as well.”

The west Belfast rappers took a ride in a mock PSNI Land Rover in Utah ahead of the premiere of their new movie at the Sundance Film Festival.

The trio posted a video to their social media channels on Thursday, hours before the first screening of the eponymous comedy film telling the story of their emergence on the Irish music scene.

Directed by Rich Peppiatt and starring Kneecap’s Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí as themselves, the film also features X-Men actor Michael Fassbender and Peaky Blinders’ Simone Kirby, and is one of the most anticipated movies at this year’s Sundance festival in Utah’s Park City, which runs until January 28.

In the new short video, the group are shown searching a map for directions below a sign showing them on the outskirts of the city of Provo, which lies south of Park City, with the snowy Wasatch Mountains as a stunning backdrop.

Upon calling for an Uber, the trio are gobsmacked to see what appears to be a PSNI Land Rover arrive, with the Wolfe Tones’ ‘We’re on the One Road’ track blaring from within.

The video shows the rappers tearing off towards Park City, with the fake PSNI vehicle displaying a Kneecap registration plate, and a “to be continued...” caption.

Chosen as a spot for the comedy skit due to its name, the city of Provo is named after 18th century French-Canadian fur trapper Etienne Provost.

In their post with the video to the X platform, the group tagged the PSNI’s west Belfast account, adding: “Sundance...we’re coming for you. Special thanks to @PSNIBelfastW for the peeler jeep x.”

In 2022 the group, who released their debut track C.E.A.R.T.A in 2017, unveiled a mural in west Belfast showing a blazing PSNI vehicle ahead of their performance at that year’s Féile an Phobail in Falls Park.

The mural sparked condemnation by unionist politicians and former justice minister Naomi Long, however the group insisted it was “just a bit of art”.

Moglaí Bap said at the time: “Anti-police sentiment has been long-standing in the hip-hop community. This isn’t new.

“We didn’t burn a police Land Rover, we painted one.”

Produced by Fine Point Films, Kneecap will be released in cinemas later this year.