BBC Film

Pillion (2025)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

Director: Harry Lighton
Starring: Alexander Skarsgård, Harry Melling
Production Company: BBC Film, British Film Institute (BFI), Element Pictures
Kent Locations Used: Castle Farm, Lullingstone Castle, Crockenhill, Sevenoaks

Based upon the novel Box Hill by Adam Mars-Jones, Pillion (2025) is a British drama feature following a young, directionless man who is swept off his feet by the enigmatic leader of a motorcycle gang.

The film is Harry Lighton’s directorial debut and stars Alexander Skarsgård (True Blood, Big Little Lies) as Ray and Harry Melling (The Old Guard (2020), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) as Colin.

Filming of a biker’s camping trip took place at the Castle Farm Estate in Sevenoaks. Various driving sequences were also filmed on the surrounding roads. The Chequers Pub in Crockenhill briefly features in a scene near the film’s closing of Colin setting up an account on a dating app. Filming also took place at Lullingstone Castle, which doubled for the Tower of London, however this scene did not make the final cut.

A popular filming location, the Castle Farm Estate is set within 1,200 acres with varied landscapes, including lavender fields, hop gardens, apple orchards, bluebell woodlands and meadows. It is particularly popular for photoshoots and music videos but has also played host to The Beekeeper (2024) and Road Games (2016).

Lullingstone Castle is one of England’s oldest family estates, set within 120 acres of beautiful Kent countryside. It has been home to the Hart Dyke family for twenty generations. Built in 1497, the attractive mansion is now fronted by a Queen Anne façade of red brick and  looks out over a 15-acre lake.

Crockenhill is a picturesque village nestled in the Sevenoaks district. The nearby town of Sevenoaks has a variety of shops and restaurants as well as one of the oldest cricket grounds in the country – The Vine Cricket Ground. There are also many stately homes and castles in the area along with beautiful countryside. Recent productions to have filmed in Sevenoaks include Mr Bates Vs the Post Office (2024), Red, White & Royal Blue (2023) and Mates (2023).

Pillion (2025) was released in UK cinemas on Friday 28th November 2025 and is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

After Love (2021)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Actress Joanna Scanlan as Mary Hussain in a scene from the film. Joanna wears a patterned top and black headscarf and is looking into the distance. Behind her is grass.

Joanna Scanlan in After Love (2021) © IMDb

Director: Aleem Khan
Starring: Joanna Scanlan, Nasser Memarzia, Nathalie Richard
Production Company: The Bureau, BBC Film, British Film Institute (BFI)
Kent Locations Used: The White Cliffs of Dover, Kingsdown, Port of Dover

After Love (2021) is a BFI funded film directed by Aleem Khan (Three Brothers, Diana). It follows Mary Hussain played by Joanna Scanlan (The Larkins (2021-2022), Dracula (2020)) in the wake of her husband Ahmed’s (Nasser Memarzia, Knightfall, The Honourable Woman (2014)) unexpected death. She leaves her hometown of Dover behind to cross the channel to Calais where she hopes to uncover secrets in her husband’s past.

The film also stars Nathalie Richard (Never Let Me Go, Caché) and focuses on the beauty of cultural differences and the effects of physical distance on people’s relationships.

Production visited The White Cliffs of Dover whilst filming, as well as a private residence in Kingsdown, near Dover which doubles as Mary’s home. One scene was filmed showing Mary boarding a ferry at the Port of Dover, as she travels to the Continent.

The White Cliffs of Dover are an iconic landmark, affording spectacular views across the Channel. Dover is a popular film location which also boasts the historic Dover Castle. The White Cliffs of Dover have previously featured in Sherlock Holmes – A Game of Shadows (2011), On A Clear Day (2005) and Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965).

As the busiest passenger port in Europe, The Port of Dover is a very sought-after filming location. Previous productions to film at the Port include Christopher Robin (2018) and Will (2011).

After Love was screened as part of the BFI London Film Festival 2020 in October 2020.

After Love (2021) was released in UK cinemas on Friday 4th June 2021.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.