Pillion Dominates BIFA Ceremony, Securing Four Major Awards

The romantic biker drama, "Pillion," starring Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling, concluded the 2025 awards season with a significant sweep at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFA). The film clinched the top honor, "Best British Independent Film," during the ceremony held on November 30, 2025. Hosted by comedians Lou Sanders and Harriet Kemsley at London's Roundhouse venue, this victory signals a growing industry appreciation for bold, unconventional projects that step outside the typical studio mold.

Based on Adam Mars-Jones's 2020 novel "Box Hill," "Pillion" garnered recognition across several other key categories. Director Harry Lytton, marking his feature film debut, earned the award for "Best Debut Screenwriter." Furthermore, the film secured technical accolades, winning for Grace Snell’s costume design and Deandra Ferreira’s work on hair and makeup. In total, "Pillion" amassed four awards, matching the haul of Alex Garland’s military drama, "Warfare," in terms of total prizes taken home.

This UK-Ireland co-production had previously gained international traction. Back on May 18, 2025, it was celebrated at the Cannes Film Festival within the "Un Certain Regard" section, where it secured prizes for Best Screenplay and the "Palm Dog" award. Lytton, in adapting the source material, centered the narrative on the unconventional relationship developing between a parking enforcement officer and a motorcyclist. Skarsgård, who played the character Ray, conveyed strong confidence in Lytton’s directorial vision, even given the script's provocative nature.

The 2025 BIFA ceremony saw "Warfare" also secure four accolades, specifically winning for editing, visual effects, sound, and the ensemble prize. Among the evening's other major victors was Akinola Davies Jr., who took home the "Best Director" award for his debut feature, "My Father's Shadow." This film is also the official UK submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards. Although "My Father's Shadow," which explores events from June 23, 1993, in Lagos, received 12 nominations, it ultimately secured just one award. Meanwhile, "The Ballad of Wallis Island" managed to secure three awards, including prizes for Best Screenplay and Best Joint Lead Performance.

The success of "Pillion" stands out when viewed against other highly nominated contenders, such as "My Father's Shadow" (with 12 nods) and "I Swear," which earned Robert Aramayo the Best Leading Actor award. This outcome underscores the vitality and diversity currently present within the British independent cinema landscape. Director Lytton humorously reflected on his earlier nomination for a short film in 2017, joking that he failed to win then and subsequently spent the rest of the evening "burning bridges in the industry." He expressed gratitude to BIFA for not blacklisting him. This significant triumph, bolstered by funding from the BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund, confirms that daring, original storytelling resonates powerfully with both critics and audiences alike.