The real life story of how an anarchic Belfast trio became the unlikely figureheads of a civil rights movement to save and reinvigorate their mother tongue.

In post-troubles Belfast, three new voices in rap emerge, setting the stage for the Irish language’s resurgence against the establishment. Self-proclaimed 'low life scum' Liam Óg and Naoise, along with school teacher JJ, become a political symbol and the defiant voice of Ireland's restless youth.

As they struggle to make their mark on the world, and family and relationship pressures threaten to pull the plug on their dreams, the trio weave a narrative that transcends music in the aim to save the Irish language.

Kneecap is an exhilarating origin story for the real-life band of the title, combining fact and a liberal helping of fiction, and enthusiastically performed by the rappers themselves backed by Irish actors including Michael Fassbender, Josie Walker and Simone Kirby.

This Q&A screening is supported by the BFI National Lottery Audience Projects Fund.

---