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Apples Being Heumann Opens Toronto International Film Festival as Tribute to Disability Rights Pioneer
Apple Original Films will kick off the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) with the feature film Being Heumann, which is set to premiere on September 10 at Roy Thomson Hall. The film will mark the festival’s opening night, a high‑profile platform for a story that has shaped American civil rights.
Being Heumann adapts the memoir of the same name by Judith Ellen Heumann, the disability rights activist who died in March 2023. The narrative follows Heumann’s leadership of more than a hundred people with disabilities during the 1977 sit‑in at the San Francisco Federal Building. The 25‑day occupation pressured the federal government to enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a landmark law that mandates accessibility in all federally funded programs.
Heumann contracted polio at age two and began using a wheelchair in early childhood. Her parents chose to enroll her in school rather than institutionalize her. As an adult, she was denied a teaching license by the New York Board of Education because officials feared she could not evacuate in an emergency. She ultimately became New York’s first teacher in a wheelchair.
Beyond education, Heumann helped draft and push through several key pieces of legislation, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Her work with the U.S. State Department and the World Bank extended disability rights into international development policy.
The film is directed, written, and produced by Academy Award‑winning filmmaker Siân Heder, who previously brought CODA—the first film with a predominantly deaf cast to win an Oscar for Best Picture—to the Academy stage. Heder’s involvement signals a continued commitment to authentic representation of disabled communities.
Ruth Madeley, a performer with spina bifida, portrays Heumann. The supporting cast includes Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O’Brien, Rob Delaney, Daniel Durant, Madeline Delp, and Ray Fisher. Madeley’s casting follows a growing trend of hiring actors who share the lived experiences of the characters they play.
Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, expressed enthusiasm: “We’re thrilled to open this year’s festival with Siân Heder’s inspiring follow‑up to her Oscar‑winning CODA.” He added that the film offers an “electric performance” from Madeley and highlights Heumann’s story as a “world‑changing advocate for accessibility.”
The premiere fits into TIFF’s broader program, which blends mainstream and independent titles, many of which tackle social justice themes. By positioning Being Heumann as the opening night feature, the festival underscores the importance of disability rights history within contemporary cinema.
Apple’s decision to produce the film reflects the company’s strategy to create original content with cultural relevance, joining a trend of streaming platforms investing in biographical dramas that spotlight under‑represented activists.
Being Heumann will become available on Apple TV+ after its theatrical run. The release is timed to coincide with the 2026 Disability Rights Conference in New York in October, where panels will examine the legacy of the 1977 sit‑in and ongoing efforts to enforce Section 504.
In short, the film’s debut as TIFF’s opening night on September 10 offers a cinematic portrait of Judith Heumann’s life and activism. With Apple’s production backing, Siân Heder’s direction, and a cast that includes actors with disabilities, Being Heumann stands as a significant cultural event that highlights both the historical and ongoing struggle for disability rights in the United States and beyond.
Being Heumann adapts the memoir of the same name by Judith Ellen Heumann, the disability rights activist who died in March 2023. The narrative follows Heumann’s leadership of more than a hundred people with disabilities during the 1977 sit‑in at the San Francisco Federal Building. The 25‑day occupation pressured the federal government to enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a landmark law that mandates accessibility in all federally funded programs.
Heumann contracted polio at age two and began using a wheelchair in early childhood. Her parents chose to enroll her in school rather than institutionalize her. As an adult, she was denied a teaching license by the New York Board of Education because officials feared she could not evacuate in an emergency. She ultimately became New York’s first teacher in a wheelchair.
Beyond education, Heumann helped draft and push through several key pieces of legislation, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Her work with the U.S. State Department and the World Bank extended disability rights into international development policy.
The film is directed, written, and produced by Academy Award‑winning filmmaker Siân Heder, who previously brought CODA—the first film with a predominantly deaf cast to win an Oscar for Best Picture—to the Academy stage. Heder’s involvement signals a continued commitment to authentic representation of disabled communities.
Ruth Madeley, a performer with spina bifida, portrays Heumann. The supporting cast includes Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O’Brien, Rob Delaney, Daniel Durant, Madeline Delp, and Ray Fisher. Madeley’s casting follows a growing trend of hiring actors who share the lived experiences of the characters they play.
Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, expressed enthusiasm: “We’re thrilled to open this year’s festival with Siân Heder’s inspiring follow‑up to her Oscar‑winning CODA.” He added that the film offers an “electric performance” from Madeley and highlights Heumann’s story as a “world‑changing advocate for accessibility.”
The premiere fits into TIFF’s broader program, which blends mainstream and independent titles, many of which tackle social justice themes. By positioning Being Heumann as the opening night feature, the festival underscores the importance of disability rights history within contemporary cinema.
Apple’s decision to produce the film reflects the company’s strategy to create original content with cultural relevance, joining a trend of streaming platforms investing in biographical dramas that spotlight under‑represented activists.
Being Heumann will become available on Apple TV+ after its theatrical run. The release is timed to coincide with the 2026 Disability Rights Conference in New York in October, where panels will examine the legacy of the 1977 sit‑in and ongoing efforts to enforce Section 504.
In short, the film’s debut as TIFF’s opening night on September 10 offers a cinematic portrait of Judith Heumann’s life and activism. With Apple’s production backing, Siân Heder’s direction, and a cast that includes actors with disabilities, Being Heumann stands as a significant cultural event that highlights both the historical and ongoing struggle for disability rights in the United States and beyond.
