Harry Lighton’s directorial debut, “Pillion,” has captured four prestigious British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs), including Best Independent British Film and Best Debut Screenwriter. The film, featuring Alexander Skarsgård as a leather-clad biker and Harry Melling as a suburban London man who becomes his submissive, was celebrated at the awards ceremony held in London, which was a night filled with admiration for independent cinema.
In addition to its main awards, “Pillion” also received accolades at the recently announced BIFA craft awards, matching the recognition garnered by “Warfare,” directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland, which excelled in craft and ensemble categories.
Myrid Carten’s documentary “A Want in Her,” which tackles themes of mental health and addiction within families, impressed with three BIFA wins, including Best Feature Documentary and the Raindance Maverick Award.
Joachim Trier’s film “Sentimental Value” was honored as the Best International Indie Film, with co-writer Eskil Vogt humorously noting the difficulty of moving on to their next project due to the film’s growing popularity.
Akinola Davies Jr. was awarded Best Director for “My Father’s Shadow,” a family drama set in Lagos and the U.K. submission for the Oscars’ Best International Feature Film. The film had received a remarkable total of 12 nominations during the BIFAs.
Other notable winners included Tom Basden and Tim Key for their film “The Ballad of Wallis Island,” which won Best Joint Lead Performance and Best Screenplay. The acting trophies recognized Robert Aramayo for his compelling role in “I Swear,” Posy Sterling for her breakthrough performance in “Lollipop,” and Jay Lycurgo for his supporting performance in “Steve.”
Reflecting on his win, Aramayo expressed pride in the conversations spurred by his film around Tourette’s syndrome and neurodiversity, emphasizing the importance of these discussions.
Cal McMau won the Douglas Hickox Award for his debut film “Wasteman,” while Dhiraj Mahey was celebrated as the Breakthrough Producer for “Ish.” The Best British Short Film award went to “Magid / Zafar,” which explores complex relationships in a British-Pakistani restaurant.
Emily Watson was presented with the Richard Harris Award for Outstanding Contribution by an Actor to British Film, where she stressed the need for independent storytellers to engage with future generations and uphold the integrity of the narratives shared in the industry.
The night culminated with heartfelt speeches celebrating creativity and collaboration in filmmaking, reinforcing the vital role of independent cinema in shaping cultural discourse. As the event concluded, the community looked forward to continuing to support innovative voices in film.