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Irish-language cinema has bright future despite Oscars snub, says Kneecap director

Comedy film loosely based on lives of Belfast hip-hop trio missed out on nominations for best international feature and original song

Hollywood may not have been quite ready to see Kneecap “walking down the red carpet smoking a joint” but the makers of the comedy biopic about the hip-hop trio say it has shown there is a “bright future” for Irish-language cinema and an indigenous industry in Belfast. The producers of the film – which is named after the group – and their family and friends turned out to watch the Academy Awards nominations announcement in Madden’s bar in Belfast with the band tuning in on Zoom from London, where they are recording a new album. Based loosely on the real lives of the west Belfast rap trio, it had had been shortlisted in the best international feature award category and best original song for Sick in the Head at the upcoming 97th Oscars but missed out on both.

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