Feature film about KNEECAP is shortlisted for The Mother Tongues Award

Belfast hip-hop trio KNEECAP are set to be the subject of an upcoming feature film from BAFTA-winning writer/director Rich Peppiatt – which has already made the shortlist for the new Mother Tongues Awards.

As reported by Screen Daily, the Irish-language film, titled Kneecap, "centres on the story of three Irish rappers". It was written in development with Trevor Birney of Fine Points Films – the producer of award-winning documentaries Bobby Sands: 66 Days and Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House of God.

Peppiatt previously directed the satirical documentary One Rogue Reporter – which premiered at the Sheffield Doc/Fest in 2014.

Sharing a screenshot of Screen Daily's article on Twitter, KNEECAP didn't give away any further details...

Movie time pic.twitter.com/VyZx04ge3U

— KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) March 11, 2021

The Mother Tongues Award is a new development initiative, focused on feature film projects by UK-based filmmakers in which the dialogue is in a language other than English. Kneecap was included among a shortlist of 10 projects, out of a total of 112 entries, spanning 47 languages and dialects. All shortlisted projects will attend a workshop and a panel interview for the development award of £10,000.

KNEECAP recently announced rescheduled dates for their upcoming gigs at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin (October 20) and the Telegraph Building in Belfast (November 6), as ell as their What's The Story Moaning Tory UK tour.

Since talking to Hot Press ahead of their Longitude appearance back in July 2019, KNEECAP set off on their ‘Your Ma Hates Ya’ tour – which included a triumphant sold-out set at The Academy, Dublin. They were also tipped as one of the Hot Press 'Hot For 2020' Irish Acts, and were among the highlights of the Rock Against Homelessness night at the Olympia Theatre, Dublin in 2020.

Shortly after launching their US tour in March 2020, the outbreak of Covid-19 resulted in the cancellation of KNEECAP's scheduled gigs. Their manager, Daniel Lambert, launched a fundraising appeal to assist with costs – noting that the group had been left "essentially broke", after spending thousands on visas, travel and accommodation. The fundraiser went on to raise over €14,800.

In late 2020, they returned with their poignant single, 'Mam'.