Pillion Dominates at 2025 British Indie Film Awards
Biker romance drama 'Pillion' cleaned up at the 2025 British Independent Film Awards, nabbing four major gongs including Best British Independent Film and Best Debut Screenwriter.
It was a big night for the team behind Pillion at this year’s British Independent Film Awards, with the biker romance drama picking up four trophies and making a real splash. The film, featuring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, took out the top honour for Best British Independent Film, while Harry Lighton scored Best Debut Screenwriter. The film also walked away with wins in Best Costume Design and Best Make Up and Hair Design, showing it’s not just the story that’s got people talking.
Cast and Crew Share Their Experience
In a recent chat with Far Out, Skarsgård and the creative crew opened up about what went into making the film. Skarsgård didn’t shy away from the film’s bold premise, saying,
A lot of people were like, ‘Oh, a BDSM, kinky gay biker movie by a first-time filmmaker – was that scary?’. It’s an incredible screenplay. It’s so good.
He went on to say,
And then I had one conversation with Harry Lighton…and he’s extraordinary… I just felt so confident in him and his ability to kind of tell this story in the right way, so I didn’t hesitate for a second.
The team’s confidence clearly paid off, with the film’s critical success matching its haul of awards.
Other Standouts on the Night
The ceremony, held at the Roundhouse in London on 30 November, saw a few other fresh faces take home prizes. Akinola Davies Jr was recognised as Best Director for his first feature, My Father’s Shadow. Meanwhile, Tom Basden and Tim Key picked up Best Screenplay for their debut, The Ballad of Wallis Island. The same duo also landed Best Joint Lead Performance, showing they’re not just handy with a script.
Elsewhere, Robert Aramayo was awarded Best Lead Performance for his role in I Swear, and Jay Lycurgo took out Best Supporting Performance for Steve. It was a night that celebrated both new talent and strong performances across the board.
New Award for Local Cinemas
For the first time, the British Independent Film Awards introduced a Cinema of the Year category. The inaugural winner was The Magic Lantern Cinema in Tywyn, Wales, giving a nod to the venues that keep indie films alive for local punters. The addition of this award highlights the important role these cinemas play in the film community.