Lighton began making short films whilst studying English literature at the University of Oxford. and a
British Independent Film Award nomination for
Best British Short Film at the
British Independent Film Awards 2017. His feature film debut,
Pillion, premiered in the
Un Certain Regard section at the
2025 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the award for Best Screenplay. The film was also screened at the
2025 BFI London Film Festival. "50 Shades of BDSM, Wallace & Gromit" was how
The Guardian headlined its review of the film. The director commented in an interview with the German site "queer.de": "I’m thrilled—that’s the most beautiful comparison anyone has ever made. I grew up with Wallace & Gromit, and part of our humor in
Pillion is definitely inspired by it. So, for me, that comparison feels very spot on." == Personal life ==