Films & Events

Written and directed by Harry Lighton in his feature debut, Pillion is a bold, darkly funny romantic drama adapted from Adam Mars-Jones’ novel Box Hill. The film stars Harry Melling as Colin, a shy, closeted Londoner whose quiet life is upended when he begins an intense BDSM relationship with Ray, an enigmatic biker played by Alexander Skarsgård. What begins as erotic submission evolves into a complex exploration of identity, power, grief, and emotional intimacy, as Colin navigates the boundaries between devotion, desire, and self-discovery.

Premiering in the Un Certain Regard section at the 78th Cannes Film Festival, Pillion won the Best Screenplay prize and the Palm Dog for “Mutt Moment,” earning a seven-minute standing ovation and widespread critical acclaim. The film went on to win Best British Independent Film at the British Independent Film Awards (among four wins from ten nominations) and received multiple BAFTA nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay and Outstanding British Film. Lighton also won Best Adapted Screenplay at the Gotham Independent Film Awards, cementing the film as one of the most celebrated independent releases of the year.

With near-universal critical praise—holding a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score indicating “universal acclaim”—Pillion has been hailed as a fearless, emotionally intelligent debut. Blending dark humor with raw vulnerability, the film offers an unconventional yet deeply human portrait of love and autonomy, marking Lighton as a striking new voice in contemporary British cinema.

2025. 107 min.

Unrated.