Kneecap Wins FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actor at Palm Springs International Film Festival 2025
Date Posted: January 13, 2025
The 36th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival has revealed this year’s juried award winners. PSIFF took place from Jan. 2-13, 2025, and screened 165 films from over 71 countries, including 68 premieres.
The FIPRESCI jury members were Canadian film critic Brian D. Johnson, Brazilian film critic Marcelo Janot and Italian film critic and Paola Caseslla. This special jury reviewed 35 of the official submissions for the Academy Awards International Feature Film category that were selected to screen at this year’s festival.
FIPRESCI Prize for Best Actor in an International Feature Film was given to not one performer, but three, with the three stars of Ireland’s “Kneecap” all being recognised. Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Provái make up the actual Irish rap group Kneecap and play versions of themselves in their autobiographical film of the same name, directed by Rich Peppiatt.
Jury Statement: “To Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Provái, for their seamless performance as an ensemble of musicians who make their acting debut in ‘Kneecap.’ Proving equally authentic and explosive in both capacities, they bring a fresh and propulsive energy to the whole notion of cultural identity.”
The film was produced by Trevor Birney and Jack Tarling for Fine Point Films and 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, Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland, the BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), Coimisiún na Meán, TG4, Dias Feld and Kamila Serkebaeva, with backing from Great Point Media.
