The Ballad of Wallis Island Filming Locations (2025)

The Ballad of Wallis Island is a 2025 British comedy film directed by James Griffiths and written by Tim Key and Tom Basden.

The film stars Tim Key, Tom Basden, and Carey Mulligan and follows an eccentric lottery winner named Charles (played by Key), who lives alone on a remote island.

Obsessed with reuniting his favorite band, McGwyer Mortimer, Charles invites the estranged bandmates and former lovers to play a private concert at his home. As they gather, old tensions resurface, threatening to derail his dream gig.

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2025, and will be released in the United States on March 28, 2025, by Focus Features.

Where Was The Ballad of Wallis Island Filmed?

Despite being set on a remote island, The Ballad of Wallis Island was filmed primarily along the coast of Wales. The filmmakers used real coastal landscapes to create the illusion of an isolated setting.

The house represents Charles’s home in the film is situated in a town where director James Griffiths’s mother was born and lived. The choice of location adds a personal and emotional connection to the film, as Griffiths’s family has strong ties to the area.

A difficult-to-access beach along the Welsh coast was used for certain scenes. The secluded nature of the beach helped sell the illusion of Charles’s home being on a faraway island, even though the movie was filmed on the mainland.

The location in the above image is Ramsey Island, a nature reserve owned and managed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Located off the coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales, about 1 km (0.6 miles) west of St. David’s Head, Ramsey Island provided stunning natural scenery that enhanced the film’s sense of isolation.

When Did the Filming of The Ballad of Wallis Island Take Place?

Principal photography for The Ballad of Wallis Island took place in 2023. The film was later completed and had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025, ahead of its March 28, 2025, theatrical release.

FAQ

Q: What is The Ballad of Wallis Island about?
A: The film follows Charles, an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island. He dreams of reuniting his favorite band, McGwyer Mortimer, for a private concert. When the bandmates—who are also former lovers—agree to the reunion, tensions resurface, and Charles struggles to keep his dream event from falling apart.

Q: Where was The Ballad of Wallis Island filmed?
A: The film was primarily shot on the coast of Wales, including Ramsey Island in Pembrokeshire. Additional scenes were filmed in a town with personal significance to the director, as his mother was born and lived there.

Q: Is Wallis Island a real place?
A: No, Wallis Island is fictional. The filmmakers used various locations in Wales, particularly Ramsey Island and a secluded coastal town, to create the illusion of a remote island setting.

Q: When will The Ballad of Wallis Island be released?
A: The film premiered at Sundance on January 25, 2025, and will have a limited theatrical release in the United States on March 28, 2025, via Focus Features.