An anti-British Irish-language movie paid for by UK public money has won the top honour at this year’s British Independent Film Awards.
Titled Kneecap – after the rap trio of the same name – the comedy-drama was not only named the Best British Independent film but also bagged six more of the prestigious trophies and received 14 nominations.
The storyline is based on a semi-fictionalised account of how the Belfast rap group came to be and follows the reaction to their performances – born from their love for the Irish language.
An astonishing £1.6million of public money was used to fund the movie – despite the rap group being accused of glorifying the IRA and stoking sectarian hatred.
Victims of Republican and Loyalist terror atrocities said they were appalled that vast sums of public money and National Lottery cash was spent on the semi-autobiographical film.
But, despite the controversy the movie still landed a string of BIFAs with cast members Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh being named best joint lead stars at last night’s ceremony.
Former teacher Ó Dochartaigh celebrated the film’s haul of awards by baring his backside at the London audience, a repeat of a typically vulgar scene in the film where he moons a crowd with BRITS scrawled on one buttock and OUT on the other.
The film’s English writer-director, former tabloid journalist Richard Peppiatt, won the best debut screenwriter prize.
Anti-British movie Kneecap – based on the Irish rap trio Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, JJ Ó Dochartaigh and Naoise Ó Cairealláin (left to right) – has won the top honor at this year’s British Independent Film Awards
The comedy-drama was not only named the Best British Independent film but also bagged six more of the prestigious trophies and and received 14 nominations
The storyline is based on a semi-fictionalised account of how the Belfast rap group came to be (pictured from left band members Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, JJ Ó Dochartaigh and Naoise Ó Cairealláin plus director Richard Peppiatt)
The rap trio are known to challenge views on British culture – pictured protesting outside the Egyptian Theatre in Utah in January
Hollywood A-lister Michael Fassbender – who learnt Irish at the age of six – also stars in the movie which The Times described as ‘raucous’ and ‘stacked with politicised one-liners’.
Among the jokes in the 18-rated, drug-filled film is one that compares the Brighton Bombing to a sex act.
The group – named after the paramilitary punishment of shooting someone in the knee – dress in balaclavas and promote themselves using images of petrol bombs.
They also chant Republican slogans used by the IRA, have unveiled murals depicting violent attacks on police, mocked the Queen’s death and called for ‘Brits out of Ireland’.
Despite politicians in Northern Ireland previously accusing Kneecap of ‘fostering hatred’, they have enjoyed fawning national coverage on the BBC where they were hailed as being at the ‘forefront of Irish hip hop’.
Kneecap arrived at Sundance Film Festival in Utah for the premiere of their eponymous Irish language film in an armoured police Land Rover graffitied with the band’s name.
Bomb victims accused the group of being ‘sectarian bigots’ and glamourising terrorism, adding that they were sickened by the BBC coverage and the film’s public funding.
The handout was especially galling when many who were bereaved or disabled in terror attacks during the Troubles had been denied payouts from a government compensation scheme, they added.
Kneecap, who Jeremy Corbyn has hailed as ‘inspiring’, use a black balaclava as their social media symbol, the headgear famously worn by IRA terrorists when appearing in public.
Band member JJ Ó Dochartaigh – who uses the stage name DJ Provai – is always pictured wearing a balaclava and makes shooting gestures at audiences during gigs.
Balaclava-wearing former school teacher JJ Ó Dochartaigh celebrates by baring his backside from the stage
The trio’s tour poster from 2020 showed the then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson and DUP leader Arlene Foster strapped to a rocket on top of a burning bonfire
He posted one image reading a book entitled Provos – the nickname for the Provisional IRA. Another post by the band said the terrorist group had been ‘resisting’ British imperialism.
Just last month Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused the Labour Government of a ‘cowardly decision’ after it it reached an agreement in a legal challenge from Kneecap.
The band launched the legal case after Ms Badenoch refused them a £14,250 funding award when she was Business Secretary.
They claimed the decision to refuse the grant discriminated against them on grounds of nationality and political opinion.
The UK Government has admitted that the decision was ‘unlawful’.
However, a spokesman for Ms Badenoch has said: ‘It is unbelievable Labour have chosen not to pursue this case – yet another cowardly decision after giving away the Chagos Islands.
‘Labour will always capitulate rather than defend UK interests.
‘This case is not about whether a band promotes violence or hates the UK, as Kneecap clearly do; this is about whether government ministers have the ability to stop taxpayers’ money subsidising people who neither need nor deserve it.’
