Kneecap Star Shows Irish Pride at BAFTAs: Controversial Film Tipped for Awards

At the 2025 EE British Academy Film Awards held at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday, the Irish hip hop group put on a lively show as they made their entrance.

The three-member hip hop group, along with the movie’s director Rich Peppiatt, has generated buzz for potentially taking home multiple awards following the nomination of their thought-provoking film in as many as six categories.

Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh proudly displayed his love for Ireland by wearing a suit adorned with the national flag and a coordinating hood.

Or, in a more colloquial style:
Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh flaunted his Irish spirit by putting on a suit decorated with the country’s colors and a matching mask.

Simultaneously, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh took on a casual demeanor, exchanging humorous banter with the director, Rich.

In a fervent display of devotion, I, a die-hard enthusiast, found myself donning a plaid ensemble adorned with my favorite band’s emblem on the back of my blazer jacket. The anticipation was palpable as we shared lighthearted banter before the grand event, a moment that culminated with an unexpected playful squeeze, a gesture that only served to fuel my excitement even further.

The plot revolves around a partly fictional portrayal of the formation of a Belfast hip-hop collective, focusing on the responses to their shows – stemming from their passion for the Irish tongue.

This standout film has been recognized with several nominations: Best British Film, Best Editing, Best Non-English Film, Best Original Screenplay, Best Ensemble Cast, and Best New British Talent in Writing, Directing, or Producing categories.

In this rephrased version, Michael Fassbender, a well-known actor who started learning Irish at the tender age of six, is also featured in a film that The Times characterized as both boisterous and brimming with politically charged witticisms.

A remarkable sum of 1.6 million pounds from public funds was allocated for the film production, even though the rap collective faced accusations of promoting the IRA and fueling religious prejudice.

Survivors of Republican and Loyalist violent incidents expressed shock upon learning that substantial amounts of taxpayer funds and National Lottery earnings were allocated to produce a semi-autobiographical movie.

The 2025 EE BAFTA Awards is coming back for a thrilling evening of entertainment, honoring the outstanding films of the year and the artistic genius behind their creation.

After spending six years at the Royal Albert Hall, the glitzy event shifted to its new abode in 2023 – the Royal Festival Hall within the Southbank Centre – and is set to return there.

The EE BAFTA Film Awards encompass 25 competitive categories which are decided by BAFTA members. 

The program is going to introduce some thrilling fresh developments, among them a brand-new category for Children’s & Family Films. This category aims to honor outstanding movies that resonate with audiences of all ages.

The newly introduced category is the first to be highlighted after a five-year gap, signifying the presentation of a fresh EE BAFTA Film Award after five years.

A fresh modification has been implemented in the Outstanding British Film category, which now involves a revised system for casting votes.

In the thrilling world of Conclave, it set a new benchmark by garnering an impressive total of 12 nominations in all categories. Meanwhile, Emilia Perez followed closely with 11 nominations, while The Brutalist secured 9.

At home, the film “Conclave” has received double the number of nominations at this year’s British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) compared to its nominations at the Golden Globe Awards held in Los Angeles last month.

As a fervent admirer, let me tell you about the gripping drama that unfolds when Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and Isabell Rossellini grace our screens. This electrifying tale revolves around the clandestine selection of a new Pope, a process brimming with intrigue and high-stakes politics. In this battlefield of ambition, power struggles, hidden agendas, and personal secrets among rival cardinals ignite, creating a whirlwind of tension that will leave you on the edge of your seat!

As a lifestyle expert, I’m thrilled to share that my top pick, the captivating Spanish drama “Emilia Perez,” has proven its mettle yet again. It may have lost the Golden Globe race, but it has truly shone at the BAFTAs, snatching the second-highest number of nominations with an impressive 11 nods. Following its triumphant sweep of 10 awards in the US ceremony, this remarkable production continues to dazzle us all.

Once more, Gladiator 2 finds itself overlooked by award panels, as it missed out on the nomination for Best Film, and the talented Irish actor Paul Mescal, aged 28, was not included in the BAFTA’s longlist for Best Actor.

62-year-old Demi Moore, who received her first acting award at the Globes for her work in Substance, has now been nominated for the Leading Actress category, alongside Cynthia Erivo, age 38 from Wicked, and Saoirse Ronan, aged 30, for the Outrun.

Movie business experts think that Ghost’s actress making it onto the BAFTA shortlist significantly boosts her chances of winning an Oscar for the first time.

In a different category of BAFTA nominations, Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin from “Succession” are set to compete against each other for the Best Supporting Actor award. Their notable performances can be seen in “A Real Pain” and the film about Donald Trump titled “The Apprentice”.

Or:

In a separate BAFTA nominations category, Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin from Succession are going head-to-head for the Best Supporting Actor prize. They both delivered outstanding performances in “A Real Pain” and “The Apprentice”, which is a film based on Donald Trump’s life.

Currently, Adrien Brody’s movie “The Brutalist” has been nominated for nine British Academy Film Awards. Following closely are the films “Dune 2” and “Wicked,” each receiving seven nominations.

In the 2024 film ‘Back To Black’, Marisa Abela is at the forefront of the contenders for the EE BAFTA Rising Star Award, thanks to her exceptional portrayal of Amy Winehouse.

On Tuesday, the following individuals were revealed to be in contention: Marisa, Jharrel Jerome (known for his work on “Unstoppable”), David Jonsson (famous for “Alien: Romulus”), Mikey Madison (recognized for “Anora”) and Nabhaan Rizwan (noted for “In Camera”).

Coincidentally, David, Nabhaan and Marisa were all stars of BBC drama Industry.

In simple terms, Sara Putt, who is the head of BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts), praised the list of BAFTA nominees this year as an outstanding mix.

She mentioned, “Moreover, upon examining the top 10 movies under ‘Best Film’, it appears that there are approximately six distinct genre categories represented.

As a die-hard fan, I can hardly contain my excitement! You’ve got everything from sci-fi to comedy, horror mixed with laughter, chills down the spine in the form of drama, and even musicals that make me want to dance! But what really takes the cake is seeing the nominations for classics like Nosferatu, The Substance, and Heretic in the horror category. This lineup is a dream come true for fans like me!

Did you notice? The film selection we have here ranges from ‘Wicked’ to ‘Kneecap‘, covering a wide variety of genres. It’s quite an impressive list, full of diversity and depth, which makes it really thrilling.

Winning this award is often considered a stepping stone towards achieving A-list fame, with past recipients such as Tom Holland, James McAvoy, Tom Hardy, Lashana Lynch, and Kristen Stewart among them.

David Tennant will take to the stage to host the BAFTAs for a second year in a row. 

The actor, 53, first hosted the awards show last year, taking over from Richard E Grant.

Without a doubt, he’s likely to showcase his charm and wit after a highly praised first appearance that drew in over 3.8 million home viewers.

Over 20 million times, the ceremony highlights were watched by fans on social media platforms as they caught up with the event.

Instead of attending the red carpet at this year’s BAFTA ceremony, Prince William (who serves as its president) and his wife Catherine will likely be absent.

Last year, Kate was unable to attend the awards due to her announcement of cancer diagnosis made via a video message on March 22. On the other hand, Prince William graced the red carpet solo at the Baftas.

The 2025 EE Bafta Film Awards will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 7pm on Sunday February 16. 

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2025-02-16 19:34

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