Kneecap director Rich Peppiatt dedicated his BAFTA Film Award on Sunday night to “everyone out there” who is fighting to “have their homeland respected”.
The biopic of the West Belfast hip-hop trio – who are outspoken about their belief in a united Ireland – was the winner of the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer at the ceremony in London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday (February 16).
The film, shot largely in the Irish language and starring the band members as themselves, was nominated in a total of six categories but was successful in just one.
Peppiatt said he was “absolutely honoured” to be accepting the award, telling the audience that his wife had convinced him to move to Belfast a decade ago, and just a few weeks later he met the group.
Winner of the award for Outstanding Debut is Rich Peppiatt for Kneecap
@KNEECAPCEOL @CurzonFilm #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/96LVasmXmh
— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 16, 2025
“Kneecap is more than a film,” he continued. “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 was named the best film of 2024 by NME, who noted: “Inspired by the three’s experiences growing up in post-Troubles Belfast – as well as their wit and endless imagination – this dark comedy cum docudrama cum fictionalised origin story follows low level drug dealers Móglaí and Mo as they bumble through life getting beaten up by Republicans and Loyalists alike. Eventually, via a drug-induced creative bender, they discover a love for making music and form Kneecap with a local schoolteacher. Cue the funniest and most exciting band biopic since, well, ever. Even Noel Gallagher’s a fan – and he hates everything.”
The film had also been longlisted at the Oscars this year, but was left out of the final nominations list last month. The band responded by tweeting: “Fuck the Oscars. Free Palestine.”
Kneecap scored a five-star review from NME, with Andrew Trendell writing: “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.”
The biggest winners at the BAFTAs were Conclave and The Brutalist, which each picked up four gongs.
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