The 51st edition of the Toronto International Film Festival will open on September 10, 2026, with the world premiere of Being Heumann, an Apple Original Films production directed by Academy Award winner Sian Heder. The film adapts the bestselling memoir of disability rights activist Judy Heumann, who died in 2023 at age 75.
Story of the 'Mother of the Disability Rights Movement'
Being Heumann chronicles Heumann's leadership of a nearly month-long sit-in at the San Francisco Federal Building in 1977. She and over 100 disabled protesters demanded enforcement of the Rehabilitation Act, which prohibited discrimination against people with disabilities in federally funded programs. Heumann, who was quadriplegic from childhood, became known globally as the 'Mother of the Disability Rights Movement.'
In a 2020 BBC interview, Heumann explained the importance of the act: 'It would mean, for example, that you could not discriminate against someone with a disability in preschool, in elementary school, in high school, at universities, in hospitals, in government. And if in fact discrimination occurred, you would have a remedy. You could go to court. You could file a complaint.'
Cast and Creative Team
BAFTA nominee Ruth Madeley portrays Heumann, with Mark Ruffalo playing attorney Joseph Califano, who served as U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under President Jimmy Carter. Madeley called the role 'an unbelievable honour' and said, 'Judy has always been a source of inspiration for me personally and I am so excited to share her story with the world. This is truly the role of a lifetime.'
Sian Heder previously worked with Apple on CODA (2021), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Troy Kotsur, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Heder. She also executive produced the Apple TV+ series Little America.
TIFF CEO Comments
Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF, said: 'We're thrilled to open this year's Festival with Sian Heder's inspiring follow-up to her Oscar-winning CODA. Being Heumann features an electric performance from Ruth Madeley in the story of Judy Heumann, a world-changing advocate for accessibility.'
Bailey also noted that since 2005, 15 films that premiered at TIFF have gone on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, including last year's winner Anora. 'People love movies here, but it's not a snobbish film audience,' he added.
Additional Premieres Announced
Organizers also revealed two other world premieres for the 2026 festival: Prima Facie, starring Cynthia Erivo in an adaptation of Suzie Miller's play about a lawyer defending clients accused of sexual assault, directed by Susanna White; and The Assassin(s), a political thriller from celebrated South Korean director Hur Jin-ho starring Lee Min-ho, set during the 1974 attempted assassination of Korean president Park Chung-hee.
More film premieres are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The 51st Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 10 to 20, 2026.
