Kneecap film: Sony Pictures acquire rights for major release

Dublin-based creative agency The Tenth Man teamed up with Kneecap to design their arrival vehicle for the film's premiere at Sundance Film Festival in Utah

Irish-language film Kneecap, a semi-fictionalised account of how the west Belfast rap trio was formed, has been acquired by Sony Pictures Classics.

The film, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival on Thursday, is now set for release in North America and other major, global markets.

Kneecap sees the band alongside Academy Award nominee Michael Fassbender.

The film's producer Trevor Birney, from Fine Point Films, described the deal as "phenomenal".

"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," Mr Birney told Irish broadcaster RTÉ.

• We like people to get riled up - Kneecap

• Rappers Kneecap head stateside for Sundance

• 'A breakthrough moment' for Irish language films

Mr Birney said the feature marked a "break-out moment for Belfast" and its film community.

"I think this film will mark a generational shift for film production as well," he said.

The deal gives Sony Pictures Classics the rights to the film in North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Turkey and the Middle East.

Kneecap is the first Irish-language film to premiere at Sundance

The premiere marked the first time an Irish-language film had screened at Sundance.

Kneecap is also the first non-US film to ever be selected for the NEXT section of the festival.

'Gleefully irreverent'

The film met rave reviews upon its premiere with The Hollywood Reporter describing it as "gleefully irreverent".

Filmed in Belfast and Dundalk, Kneecap director Rich Peppiatt told BBC News NI: "It's definitely more controversial than the usual movies that come out of Northern Ireland."

The band are known for their politically-charged lyrics

Set in west Belfast in 2019, the film is a semi-fictionalised account of how the group was formed.

The three-piece have faced disapproval and censorship for their politically-charged lyrics and ease with controversy - they've previously admitted they like "to get people riled up"

But that hasn't stopped them gaining a following both in Ireland and overseas.

"There's a lot of playfulness and a lot of fun and craic, if you're offended by it then you're just not getting the joke," Kneecap member Móglaí Bap told BBC News NI ahead of the premiere.

"We're not creating art for controversy's sake, we live in a place where people are quite easily offended by certain topics," the rapper added.