Excitement turned to disappointment in a Belfast bar as fans realised that Irish-language rap trio Kneecap would not be making an appearance on the red carpet at this year's Oscars.
Dozens of supporters had packed into the small upstairs room of Madden's Bar to watch the Oscar nominations being announced, hopeful that the film Kneecap might secure a place in the race for Academy Awards glory.
Among those gathered were the film's cast and crew, including writer-director Rich Peppiatt and producer Trevor Birney, while the members of Kneecap joined remotely from London, where they are currently recording.
The movie has had a strong run during awards season, earning 17 nominations at the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Awards and six at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Film Awards, the BAFTAs. It was also shortlisted for Best International Feature and Best Original Song (Sick in the Head) at the Oscars but fell short of making the final five in either category when the nominations were revealed in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon.
Reflecting on the outcome, director Peppiatt expressed both disappointment and pride.
"Clearly, we would have liked to have gone that extra step, but the film owes us nothing. We've had a fantastic year," he said.
"To even get close to the Oscars conversation is fantastic. We'll have a few drinks today, we'll dust ourselves down."
Producer Trevor Birney echoed the sentiment, describing the occasion as a moment of celebration.
"We are very proud; this is an incredible day," he said. "We are all gathered here today to celebrate an Irish-language film.
"We didn't get into the final five, but we pushed it very hard. It really is a celebration of an indigenous film, a celebration of our language, a celebration of our culture.
"What can we do now to build on that? What can we do to celebrate our city and its stories? It is a wonderful platform that Rich Peppiatt has given us in order to build on."
He continued: "We're up for BAFTAs and IFTAs, we've got the Critics Choice Award[s], and we've picked up awards all across Europe.
"When I was on set two years ago, you could feel that something special was happening, something hugely creative. We never knew how it was going to develop.
"A year ago, we were at Sundance and thought that was the high point. Here we are a year later, still talking about Kneecap."
Although Kneecap missed out on Oscars recognition, fans at Madden's made the most of the moment, raising pints of Guinness to toast the film's remarkable journey.
Source: Press Association
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