Dublin and London based production company Element Pictures (POOR THINGS, NORMAL PEOPLE), yesterday (Sunday 18th) premiered two directorial debuts at the Cannes Film Festival today in Official Selection (Un Certain Regard), Harry Lighton’s PILLION and Akinola Davies Jr’s MY FATHER’S SHADOW.

Both PILLION and MY FATHER’S SHADOW have been acclaimed by critics and audiences alike and landed resoundingly as highlights mid-way through the festival.

Vanity Fair describes PILLION as “a disarmingly poignant drama of discovery”, whilst The Guardian have given the film four stars, remarking that it is “brilliant”, and “what Fifty Shades of Grey could have been”.It tells the story of a timid man (Harry Melling) who is swept off his feet when an enigmatic, impossibly handsome biker (Alexander Skarsgard) takes him on as his submissive. Deadline already predicting that it will be “A new kinkier Christmas classic for LGBTQ fans.”

Reacting to the positive reactions, PILLION producer Emma Norton notes “The reception to Pillion is such a testament to Harry Lighton’s wonderful warmth and intellect. There was so much laughter and emotion in the room and we’re thrilled that Pillion has been embraced by the critics and Cannes audience.”

Making history as the first Nigerian film to premiere at Cannes, MY FATHER’S SHADOW transcends international borders as Deadline note it to be “a moving universal story”. A semi-autobiographical tale set over the course of a single day in the Nigerian capital Lagos during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis. “A thrillingly vital account of the moment when everything changes” according to a glowing Screen Daily review. 

 MY FATHER’S SHADOW producer Rachel Dargavel adds “Akinoa and Wale have created a beautiful, poetic evocation of fatherhood set against political turmoil in 90’s Lagos. We are also so proud to be involved with the first Nigerian film in Official Selection’.”

Both films will be released internationally later this year and in early 2026.

  • PILLION: Based on the book Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones, directed by Harry Lighton and starring Alexander Skarsgard, Harry Melling.

PILLION is an Element Pictures production financed by BBC Film and the BFI, in association with Fremantle, Picturehouse Entertainment and September Film. It will be released by A24 in US, Picturehouse in the UK & Ireland, September in Benelux with a date to be confirmed. International sales will be handled by Cornerstone Film Sales.

  • MY FATHER’S SHADOW: Directed by Akinola Davies Jr, written by Akinola Davies Jr and Wale Davies and starring Sope Dirisu.

MY FATHER’S SHADOW is an Element Pictures production in association with Crybaby and Fatherland Productions. It was developed & co-financed by BBC Film, and the BFI. Fremantle and Electric Theatre Collective are also partners on the project. Itwill be released by MUBI in the US, UK, Ireland & Turkey with a date to be confirmed. International sales will be handled by Match Factory.