Sony Pictures Classics Sets Summer Launch For Sundance Music Doc ‘Kneecap’

On the heels of its premiere to critical acclaim at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the documentary Kneecap on the Irish rap trio of the same name has been slated for release by Sony Pictures Classics in theaters nationwide on August 2, when it will open against Columbia Pictures’ family film Harold and the Purple Crayon.

The first Irish-language film to bow out of Sundance, where it landed the NEXT Audience Award, pic stars Naoise Ó Cairelláin aka “Móglaí Bap,” Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh aka “Mo Chara” and JJ Ó Dochartaigh aka “DJ Provaí” as themselves, all making their acting debuts. Others in the cast include Josie Walker, Fionnuala Flaherty, Jessica Reynolds, Adam Best, Simone Kirby and Michael Fassbender.

When fate brings Belfast schoolteacher JJ into the orbit of self-confessed “low life scum” Naoise and Liam Og, the needle drops on a hip hop act like no other. Rapping in their native Irish language, Kneecap fast become the unlikely figureheads of a Civil Rights movement to save their mother tongue. But the trio must first overcome police, paramilitaries, and politicians trying to silence their defiant sound — whilst their anarchic approach to life often makes them their own worst enemies.

Pic is the first narrative feature from Rich Peppiatt, who wrote and directed from his story written with Ó Cairealláin, Ó Hannaidh, and Ó Dochartaigh. Trevor Birney produced for Fine Point Films, alongside Jack Tarling for Mother Tongues Films, with Patrick O’Neill at Wildcard acting as co-producer. Funding for the film was provided by Northern Ireland Screen, the Irish Language Broadcast Fund, Screen Ireland, the BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), Coimisiún na Meán and TG4, Dias Feld and Kamila Serkebaeva, with backing from Great Point Media.

Also this year playing SXSW, Kneecap was recently announced as the opening night film for the 11th edition of the Sundance Film Festival: London, which takes place in June.