After a phenomenal world premiere at Sundance Film Festival in the US – at which their feature film was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics – KNEECAP are back in more familiar territory: sparking political outrage.

As reported by The Times this morning, the former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Theresa Villiers, has criticised the “unjustified” use of public funds, totalling £1.6 million, to finance the film inspired by the West Belfast hip-hop trio, whom she accuses of promoting division in the country.

KNEECAP received £760,000 in public money from the Northern Ireland Screen and a further £910,000 from the National Lottery, paid in four instalments last year via the British Film Institute, for supporting “a film with a strong cultural or progressive impact” and “diversity of representation in terms of perspective, talent and recruitment.”

“This is an unjustified use of public and lottery money," Villiers told The Times. "I was shocked to hear that projects relating to this group have received such large sums. They are entitled to express their views, but public money should not be squandered on those who appear to be taking such a hardline approach and promoting division.

“Public services are under pressure in Northern Ireland because of recent rises in prices. It would have been far better for this money to have been used to relieve those pressures rather than promote such a controversial group.”

DUP MP for North Antrim and the party’s culture spokesman, Ian Paisley Jr., also condemned KNEECAP's funding, saying that he was “appalled” that the film was funded by taxpayers and added that he would write to the secretaries of state for culture and Northern Ireland concerning the decision.

In response, KNEECAP commented: “You can inform the DUP that we will put on a private screening for them in Belfast, in an Orange lodge of their choice. We will send popcorn and fizzy drinks too, all on us. Grá mor [big love].”

In response to a request for comment the band said:

“You can inform the DUP that we will put on a private screening for them in Belfast, in an Orange lodge of their choice. We will send popcorn and fizzy drinks too, all on us. Grá mor [big love].”https://t.co/ul6FW4t9dd

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) January 23, 2024

Written and directed by Rich Peppiatt, KNEECAP was the first Irish language film to ever be screened at Sundance, which is considered the most prestigious independent film festival in the world. Starring the trio – made up of Mo Chara , Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí – as themselves, the film also features Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender, as well as Josie Walker and Simone Kirby.

The film is a semi-fictionalised account of the group's origins, and according to Sundance's website, "captures the untamable essence of this singular trio with unapologetic humor and energy, revealing a generation born out of chaos and ready to reclaim their cultural heritage."

KNEECAP will be released in cinemas by Wildcard and Curzon later this year.

Revisit KNEECAP's 2023 Hot Press cover story here.