Harry Lighton

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Harry Lighton
Harry Lighton on the Green Carpet at the 2025 Zurich Film Festival 05.jpg
Lighton in 2025
Born (1992-10-20) 20 October 1992 (age 33)
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Alma mater University of Oxford
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
Years active2016–present

Harry Lighton (born 20 October 1992) is an English film director and screenwriter. His feature directorial debut, Pillion , premiered in 2025.

Contents

Early life

Lighton was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, [1] England on 20 October 1992. [2] [3] He is the son of Sir Thomas Hamilton Lighton of the Lighton baronetcy. [4] Lighton has a twin brother. [3]

Lighton has an English literature degree from the University of Oxford. [1]

Career

Lighton began making short films whilst studying English literature at the University of Oxford. [1] His most noted short film, Wren Boys (2017), received a British Academy Film Award nomination for Best Short Film at the 71st British Academy Film Awards, [5] and a British Independent Film Award nomination for Best British Short Film at the British Independent Film Awards 2017. [6]

His feature film debut, Pillion , [7] premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, [8] where Lighton won the award for Best Screenplay. [9]

Personal life

Lighton is openly gay. [10] He lives in London. [11]

Filmography

YearTitleNotes
2016Knitlab: XYShort film
Sunday Morning Coming Down
2017Look at Me
Wren Boys
2018Leash
2019Pompeii
2025 Pillion Feature film

Awards and nominations

Award / FestivalDate of ceremonyCategoryWorkResultRef.
British Independent Film Awards 10 December 2017 Best British Short Film Wren BoysNominated [6]
British Academy Film Awards 18 February 2018 Best Short Film Nominated [5]
Cannes Film Festival 23 May 2025 Un Certain Regard Award Pillion Nominated [12]
Un Certain Regard – Best ScreenplayWon [13]
Caméra d'Or Nominated [12]
Queer Palm Nominated [14]
British Independent Film Awards 30 November 2025 Best British Independent Film Won [15]
Best Director Nominated
Best Screenplay Nominated
Douglas Hickox Award (Best Debut Director) Nominated
Best Debut Screenwriter Won
Gotham Independent Film Awards 1 December 2025 Best Adapted Screenplay Won [16]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Dalton, Ben (4 October 2018). "Stars of Tomorrow 2018: Harry Lighton (writer/director)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  2. ↑ Lighton, Harry [@hlighton]; (20 October 2022). "30 today. Evolution is a wonderful thing. Keep it up Jambo #growth #twinstagram" – via Instagram.
  3. 1 2 Gilbey, Ryan (21 November 2025). "'I think my mum's going to like it': Alexander Skarsgård on his gay biker 'dom-com' Pillion". The Guardian . ISSN   0261-3077.
  4. ↑ Mosley, Charles, ed. (2003). Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage: Clan Chiefs, Scottish Feudal Barons. Burke's Peerage. p. 2330. ISBN   0971196621.
  5. 1 2 Fletcher, Rosie (18 February 2018). "BAFTA Film Awards 2018 winners list in full". Digital Spy . Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  6. 1 2 Grater, Tom (1 November 2017). "'Lady Macbeth' leads 2017 BIFAs with 15 nominations"". Screen Daily. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  7. ↑ Gant, Charles (18 May 2025). "'Pillion' director Harry Lighton on finding the light in his transgressive queer drama: "I didn't want the sex to feel like empty provocation"". Screen Daily . Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  8. ↑ Debruge, Peter (18 May 2025). "'Pillion' Review: Edgy Queer Romance Stars Alexander Skarsgård as a Sexy Biker and Harry Melling as His Budding Submissive". Variety . Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  9. ↑ Parfitt, Orlando (23 May 2025). "Chile's 'The Mysterious Gaze Of The Flamingo' wins top Un Certain Regard award at 2025 Cannes Film Festival". Screen Daily. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  10. ↑ Lighton, Harry [@hlighton]; (11 September 2025). "@telluridefilm you absolute smokeshow Thanks for giving Pillion the best North American premiere a gayboi with a penchant for films and hikes and casual dress codes could dream of. I was so giddy I forgot to sleep and now have tonsillitis but that is but a small price to pay: the pustules will fade, the memories will last forever!" – via Instagram.
  11. ↑ "Harry Lighton | Sayle Screen". saylescreen.com. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  12. 1 2 "The films of the Official Selection 2025". Festival de Cannes. 10 April 2025. Retrieved 10 April 2025.
  13. ↑ Ntim, Zac (23 May 2025). "Chilean Drama 'The Mysterious Gaze Of The Flamingo' Wins Top Un Certain Regard Prize — Cannes". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 23 May 2025.
  14. ↑ Queer Palm (9 May 2025). "SELECTION QUEER PALM 2025 2/5". Instagram .
  15. ↑ Ford, Lily; Szalai, Georg (3 November 2025). "British Independent Film Awards: 'My Father's Shadow' and 'Pillion' Lead Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  16. ↑ Goldsmith, Jill (28 October 2025). "Gotham Awards Film Nominations: 'One Battle After Another' Leads Pack; Multiple Noms For 'If I Had Legs I'd Kick You', 'It Was Just An Accident', 'No Other Choice'". Deadline . Retrieved 28 October 2025.
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