TWO FILMS PRODUCED and developed by Dublin-based company Element Pictures have won five awards at the British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs), which took place in London last night.

Pillion (2025) and My Father’s Shadow, which is coming out on 6 February, have made waves on the independent film scene.

Pillion was nominated for 10 BIFAs. The story is based on the 2020 novel Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones and follows an ordinary man and an enigmatic motorcyclist as they enter into a BDSM relationship.

The film won four awards last night – Best British Independent Film, Best Debut Screenwriter for Harry Lighton, Best Costume for Grace Snell and Best Hair and Make Up for Diandra Ferreira.

It was filmed in London and stars Harry Melling and Alexander Skarsgard.

Its producers are Emma Norton, Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe and Lee Groombridge.

My Father’s Shadow, another Element Pictures production, was the most-nominated film of the year at the BIFAs, with 12 nominations.

It took home the award for Best Director for Akinola Davies Jr’s work.

It’s coming out on 6 February, 2026. 

Filmed in Nigeria, the semi-autobiographical film stars Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù and follows two brothers travelling with their estranged father through Lagos during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis.

Its producers are Rachel Dargavel for Element Pictures and Funmbi Ogunbanwo for Fatherland Productions.

Both films premiered to critical acclaim at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in May, where My Father’s Shadow received the Camera d’Or Special Mention and Pillion was awarded the Un Certain Regard prize for Best Screenplay.

Speaking about the wins, Co-CEOs and founders of Element Pictures, Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe, said they were thrilled.

“What a tribute to Harry Lighton, Akinola Davis Jnr, and the incredibly talented cast and crew of both films.

“These awards are a recognition of the creativity and hard work that went into bringing these stories to life.

“We are also immensely grateful to our financiers and partners, and the team here at Element Pictures, particularly Emma Norton, who produced on Pillion, and Rachel Dargavel, who produced on My Father’s Shadow.”

Element Pictures was founded in 2001 and has offices in Dublin and London.

Pillion and My Father’s Shadow are also shortlisted for the European Film Awards and The Gotham Awards.

My Father’s Shadow was recently chosen to be the UK’s official selection for Best International Feature Film to compete at the Academy Awards.

Pillion is on general release in Ireland and the UK. My Father’s Shadow will be released by MUBI in the US, UK, Ireland and Turkey on 6th February.