The shortlisting of Kneecap, an Irish-language film by Belfast's rappers, for two Oscars has highlighted a "remarkable year" for Northern Ireland's film industry. Northern Ireland Screen celebrated the region's growth as a world-class production hub, with three major productions confirmed for 2025, featuring stars like Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer.
2024 saw significant projects such as the Universal Pictures franchise How to Train Your Dragon filmed at Titanic Studios, set for release on June 13, 2025. The ongoing influence of Game of Thrones is evident with the prequel series A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms also in production.
Notable TV dramas include Channel 4's Trespasses and In Flight, alongside the second series of the courtroom drama Show Trial. Independent films like Brad Anderson's sci-fi thriller World Breaker and the Irish language film Aontas also made waves.
Kneecap's success story includes winning the Audience Award at Sundance and achieving the widest opening for an Irish film, grossing over €1.5 million. With its Oscar nominations for Best International Film and Best Original Song, Kneecap is poised to further elevate Northern Ireland's cinematic reputation. NI Screen anticipates another stellar year ahead.