Cornerstone Films has secured a raft of international distribution deals for Harry Lighton’s “Pillion,” following the film’s acclaimed run at the Cannes Film Festival.
In the film, Colin, a timid man is swept off his feet when Ray, an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker takes him on as his submissive. The film stars Harry Melling (“The Pale Blue Eye,” “The Queen’s Gambit”) as Colin and and Emmy and Golden Globe winner Alexander Skarsgard (“Big Little Lies,” “Succession,” “The Northman”) as Ray.
The LGBTQ+ drama, which premiered in the Cannes Un Certain Regard section, earned Lighton the Un Certain Regard Award for best screenplay and received glowing reviews from critics. Reviewing the film for Variety, Peter Debruge wrote: “Laced with a wry sense of humor, ‘Pillion’ manages to be both understated and explicit in the way Lighton presents practically everything that happens in Colin and Ray’s unconventional relationship.”
Cornerstone has closed deals with distributors across multiple territories, including 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). Additional deals are currently in progress.
The film already has key territory distribution locked down, with A24 handling the U.S. release, Picturehouse taking the U.K., and September Film distributing in Benelux.
The screenplay, developed with BBC Film, is based on Adam Mars-Jones’ “Box Hill,” which won the 2019 Fitzcarraldo Editions Nobel Prize.
The Element Pictures production is financed by BBC Film and the BFI (awarding National Lottery funding), in association with Fremantle, Picturehouse Entertainment and September Film. Cornerstone handles worldwide sales and distribution.
Element Pictures’ Emma Norton, Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe produced alongside Lee Groombridge. The executive producer roster includes BBC Film’s Eva Yates, Louise Ortega for the BFI, Clare Binns for Picturehouse, September Film’s Pim Hermeling, Cornerstone’s Alison Thompson and Mark Gooder, Fremantle’s Christian Vesper and Alexander Skarsgard.
The film’s department heads include cinematographer Nick Morris (“Wren Boys”), production designer Francesca Massariol (“The Strays”), BIFA Award-winning costume designer Grace Snell (“The Souvenir”), hair & makeup designer Diandra Ferreira (“Bob Marley: One Love”), BIFA Award-nominated composer Oliver Coates (“Aftersun”), editor Gareth C. Scales and casting director Kahleen Crawford (“Lost Daughter”).
Lighton’s previous short film “Wren Boys” was nominated for best British short at the 2018 BAFTAs and received a BIFA nomination, with its U.S. premiere at Sundance. The film was funded by BFI Network and Film London. Lighton is an alumni of the BFI Network x BAFTA mentoring program in partnership with BFI Flare’s 2017 cohort.
