“Oscar 2025”: Film “Kneepad” Nominated for “Best International Feature Film” and “Best Original Song”

Patella Shortlisted for Oscars

Patella was shortlisted for two Oscars – Best International Feature Film and Best Original Song.

The comedy biopic, which chronicles the rise of the Belfast hip-hop group, was among 15 films shortlisted in the International Feature Film category and 14 others in the Best Original Song category.

Band members Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairellán, and JJ Ó Dochartay star in the film, which is based on a semi-fictional account of how the west Belfast rap group was formed.

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Posted by KNEECAP (@kneecap32)

Film’s Official Submission and Nominations

The Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) has selected the film for Ireland’s official submission. The 2025 Oscar nominations will be announced on January 17, ahead of the awards ceremony on March 2 in Los Angeles.

NME caught up with Kneecap at the Reading and Leeds Festival in August to discuss meeting Noel Gallagher and Paul Mescal at Glastonbury, and what a potential Oscar nomination would mean for them. At the time of the interview, the band was aware they would be longlisted for IFTA nominations but hoped to advance further in the process and achieve a shortlist.

“I would be very surprised; I hope the bribery works!” they joked. “The fact that the film has been shown in hundreds of cinemas in America, it’s coming out here in Australia, all over Europe – that’s just a bonus for us.

“We made the film because we thought it was a cool story to tell; it was our Irish language story in Belfast. The fact that it resonates with people of other cultures and other indigenous languages is a bonus for us… considering that every 40 days an indigenous language is lost. The more languages we lose, the less prospects we have for life.”

NME described Patella as “possibly one of the best musical biopics of all time” in their five-star review, naming it the best film of 2024.

“Unforgivably assertive and bold, Patella has no right to be as good as it is – it’s not only one of the standout films of 2024, but perhaps one of the best music biopics of all time,” wrote NME Andrew Trendell. “So, after much thought and time to percolate, here is your full analysis: Damn, damn, what a movie.”

Earlier this month, The Block scored seven wins at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), including a joint award for its stars.

The group was also a cover star for NME earlier this year. In an interview, the band detailed their efforts to help raise almost £100,000 for a volunteer gym in the Aida refugee camp in Palestine, broadcast their message during high-profile TV appearances, and participated in a boycott of SXSW this year over its sponsorship by the army.