The Ballad of Wallis Island - ICFF

PLOT : Eccentric lottery winner Charles lives alone on the remote and windswept Wallis Island, where he dreams of reuniting his favourite band, McGwyer Mortimer, for a private concert. Determined to make his fantasy a reality, he invites frontman Herb McGwyer, unaware that Nell, Herb’s former bandmate and ex-girlfriend, will be arriving with her new husband. As the group gathers to relive their glory days, old tensions, along with long-buried feelings and unresolved regrets, bubble to the surface. With emotions running high and a storm cutting off escape from the island, Charles scrambles to salvage his dream gig before it all falls apart.

James Griffiths. James Griffiths is a British director and producer known for his sharp storytelling and genre versatility across film and television. He began his career directing short films and television series like Top Buzzer (2004) and Favouritism (2005), gaining recognition for his comedic timing and character-driven narratives. In 2014, Griffiths made his feature debut with Cuban Fury, a salsa-fueled romantic comedy. Griffiths has since directed and executive produced series including Free Agents (2009), Episodes (2011), and A Million Little Things (2018–2019). In 2025, Griffiths directed The Ballad of Wallis Island, a feature-length adaptation of his 2007 BAFTA-nominated short film, The One and Only Herb McGwyer Plays Wallis Island, blending heart, humour, and emotional depth.

Length 1h 40min
Year 2025

Cast Tom Basden, Tim Key, Sian Clifford,
Distribution Focus Features (United States), Universal Pictures (International)
Production Baby Cow Productions, Moxie Pictures

Sun. Jun 29

09:15 PM

Outdoor

Birra Moretti Theatre, Distillery District

Toronto

Buy Tickets $40