Rich Peppiatt's Kneecap has triumphed with seven wins at the 27th British Independent Film Awards (BIFA), which took place at London's Roundhouse on Sunday.
The Irish-language biopic – a fictionalised account of the titular rap group's formation – picked up the night's top honour, Best British Independent Film.
Writer and director Peppiatt took home the award for Best New Screenwriter. Meanwhile, Kneecap bandmates Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, Naoise Ó Cairealláin and JJ Ó Dochartaigh were recognised with Best Joint Lead Performance for their portrayals of their fictionalised selves.
Kneecap also picked up awards in the Casting, Editing, Original Music, and Music Supervision categories. The film had led the field going into the event with fourteen nominations.
Speaking to BBC on the red carpet, Peppiatt recalled first meeting the band, then unsigned and “rapping in a language not many people spoke. It didn't really scream, you know, big movie potential… but there was something that just connected.”
Kneecap failed to win any awards European Film Awards on Saturday, and is absent from the Golden Globe nominations. However, Peppiatt's film has been selected by the Irish Film & Television Academy to represent Ireland at the 97th Academy Awards, where it will compete in the Best International Feature Film category.
Other winners on the night include Marianne Jean-Baptiste, whose win for Best Lead Performance marks the latest high-profile recognition for her performance in Mark Leigh's Hard Truths. Palme d'Or winner Anora, directed by Sean Baker, secured the Best International Independent Film prize.
Best Director was awarded to Rungano Nyoni for On Becoming A Guinea Fowl, while Best Screenplay went to Sandhya Suri for Santosh.
The 27th BIFA Awards marks the first time in 2007 that the ceremony has taken place at the Roundhouse. The previous fourteen events were held at Old Billingsgate by the River Thames.
