Sundance Film Festival London have just announced that Rich Peppiatt’s Kneecap – inspired by the acclaimed Belfast hip-hop trio of the same name – will open the 2024 edition of the festival on June 6 at Picturehouse Central, in what will be the film's UK premiere.

Kneecap is a dramedy that tells the story of the rap group and how they became the unexpected face of a protest in defence of the Irish language. It is a reimagined telling of the trio’s origin story, played by the band members themselves: Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin, and JJ Ó Dochartaigh.

 

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The film, which also stars Michael Fassbender, won Utah’s Sundance Film Festival Audience Award: NEXT in January. It was the first Irish-language title to ever premiere at the festival.

Sean Wang’s film Dìdi will close this year's Sundance Film Festival London.

"Having Kneecap and Dìdi (弟弟) bookend the upcoming Sundance Film Festival: London 2024 sets the stage for a rousing edition celebrating new cinema," comments Eugene Hernandez, director of Sundance Film Festival. "These two debut films, by breakthrough directors Rich Peppiatt and Sean Wang, offer irresistible storytelling and bold filmmaking that resonated deeply with our audiences at this year's Sundance Film Festival. It's been an honour to welcome these filmmakers into the Sundance community. We look forward to bringing these exciting discoveries to London audiences and to sharing their energy and passion for independent cinema."

Kneecap will release their highly anticipated debut album, Fine Art, on June 14, via Heavenly Recordings.