Faith with Doherty and McAvoy launches at Toronto

Erin Doherty and James McAvoy have brought Faith, a story of a young working-class mother's bereavement, to the Toronto film festival.

The film is directed by Paul Andrew Williams and centres on Gina, played by Doherty, according to Variety. McAvoy plays Michael. Toronto hosts the launch.

Gina is a hard-working and devoted single mother, as described by Variety. Michael is a quietly enigmatic stranger who meets her. The story follows Gina after loss.

Smylie Bradwell plays Jamie, Gina's nine-year-old son. Liv Hill plays Poppy, Gina's sister and best friend. Family ties sit at the heart of the plot.

Williams is known for London to Brighton, his debut feature. That low-budget thriller opened his directing career. Faith keeps him in Britain and with working-class characters.

Doherty won an Emmy for Adolescence. She also appeared in The Crown. McAvoy leads opposite her as the stranger drawn into Gina's life.

Faith was named by Variety among 20 international titles to track at Toronto in 2026. The list flags films from outside Hollywood expected to attract buyers and festival audiences. Inclusion put Faith on the radar before its premiere.

Distribution is already set at home. True Brit Entertainment acquired the rights for the UK and Ireland, which means the company will handle the cinema release in those territories, according to ScreenDaily. The deal was reported in February 2026. It was described at the time as a supernatural drama thriller.

For fans, this means a short wait to see how the Toronto launch shapes the rollout. Festival premieres often set the date and plan for cinemas. The UK and Ireland release will follow through True Brit.