Harry Lighton’s debut feature Pillion, starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, has secured multiple international distribution deals following its successful premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
The film follows Colin, a shy man who becomes involved with Ray, a mysterious and strikingly attractive biker. Ray takes Colin on as his submissive, and the story explores their intense and unconventional relationship. Melling (The Pale Blue Eye, The Queen’s Gambit) plays Colin, while Skarsgård (Succession, The Northman) takes on the role of Ray.
Pillion premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, where it won Best Screenplay for Lighton. Critics praised the film, with Variety’s Peter Debruge calling it “understated and explicit,” and noting its sharp sense of humor.
Following the positive reception, sales agent Cornerstone Films closed deals with distributors in several territories. These include Weltkino (Germany and Austria), iWonder (Italy), Praesens (Switzerland), MCF (Ex-Yugoslavia), Gutek (Poland), Lusomundo (Portugal), New Cinema (Israel), Sun/Diamond (Latin America), Transformers (Japan), Challan (South Korea), and Swallow Wings (Taiwan). More deals are currently being negotiated.
Key distribution rights have already been secured, with A24 set to release the film in the U.S., Picturehouse in the U.K., and September Film in Benelux.
The screenplay is adapted from Adam Mars-Jones’ novel Box Hill, which won the 2019 Fitzcarraldo Editions Novel Prize. The film was developed with BBC Film.
Pillion is produced by Element Pictures with financial support from BBC Film and the BFI, using National Lottery funding. Fremantle, Picturehouse Entertainment, and September Film also provided support. Cornerstone is managing worldwide sales.
Producers include Emma Norton, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, and Lee Groombridge. Executive producers are Eva Yates (BBC Film), Louise Ortega (BFI), Clare Binns (Picturehouse), Pim Hermeling (September Film), Alison Thompson and Mark Gooder (Cornerstone), Christian Vesper (Fremantle), and Alexander Skarsgård.
Key creative team members include cinematographer Nick Morris (Wren Boys), production designer Francesca Massariol (The Strays), BIFA-winning costume designer Grace Snell (The Souvenir), hair and makeup designer Diandra Ferreira (Bob Marley: One Love), composer Oliver Coates (Aftersun), editor Gareth C. Scales, and casting director Kahleen Crawford (The Lost Daughter).
Lighton previously directed the acclaimed short film Wren Boys, which earned a BAFTA nomination and screened at Sundance. He is also an alumnus of the BFI Network x BAFTA mentoring program through BFI Flare.
Related topics:
