Film screening
Wednesday, 1 July, at 22:00
Old Town City Hall — courtyard

Pillion

  • Great Britain, Ireland
  • 2025
  • 107'
  • Cinema Under the Stars
When ruggedly handsome Ray gives his phone number to shy Colin, the man becomes infatuated with Ray in a blink of an eye. Since that moment, Colin comes like a dog at a whistle whenever Ray, the most attractive member of a biker club, calls him. This sudden transformation of a kind-hearted parking warden is a shocking experience for Colin’s parents. For himself, this is a bewildering lesson in back-seat driving. The film ‘Pillion’ delivers a daring deep-dive into BDSM relations and boldly treads the path that leads to the sexual and emotional awakening. With humour and fondness, the electrifying duo of Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling demolish the erotic taboo to prove that it can feel really good to lose control and totally commit oneself.
Credits
  • Directed by: Harry Lighton
  • Screenplay: Harry Lighton, based on the novel ‘Box Hill’ by Adam Mars-Jones
  • Photography: Nick Morris
  • Music: Oliver Coates
  • Editing: Gareth C. Scales
  • Cast: Harry Melling, Alexander Skarsgård
Harry Lighton

A British film director, born in 1992. He started making short films when studying English literature at the University of Oxford. His short film ‘Wren Boys’ (2017) was nominated for BAFTA Awards for the Best British Short Film. The film ‘Pillion’ is his full-length début.

Selected awards
  • Cannes IFF 2025, Un Certain Regard section – Best Screenplay
  • Gotham Awards 2025 – Best Adapted Screenplay
  • BAFTA Awards 2026 – 3 nominations for Outstanding British Film of the Year, Outstanding Début by a British Writer, Director, or Producer and Best Screenplay (Adapted)
  • Thessaloniki IFF 2025 – Best Actor (Harry Melling)
  • British Independent Film Awards 2025 – Best British Independent Film, Best Debut Screenwriter