Siân Heder’s documentary drama “Being Heumann” served as the opening night selection for the 51st Toronto International Film Festival on Thursday, immediately establishing itself as a major contender in Apple Original Films’ upcoming awards campaign. The film chronicles the true story of disability rights activist Judy Heumann and the 28-day sit-in protest that helped lay the groundwork for the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The screening at Roy Thomson Hall drew an audience that remained rapt throughout the runtime. Heder, who previously directed “CODA”—the first streaming service film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture—approached the project with a distinct vision. According to Heder, she told Heumann during the pitch that she wanted to make a film resembling “Dog Day Afternoon” with disabled people, rather than a traditional biopic.
A key component of the film’s authenticity is Heder’s decision to cast actors with disabilities. This choice provided a significant opportunity for Emma Madeley, a British actress and wheelchair user since birth. Madeley, known for her role in “Doctor Who” and a BAFTA nomination for “Don’t Take My Baby,” portrayed Heumann without relying on the saintly patience often afforded to disabled characters in biographical films. Instead, she depicted a figure who was funny, tactical, passionate, and occasionally combative.
“That is a gift for any actor to be able to play with all those different things,” Madeley said after the screening. “But that was a challenge as well, and I knew the pressure that so many disabled people are waiting to see a character like this on the big screen, myself included.”
The production benefited from Apple’s substantial funding, allowing Heder to scale up from the intimate setting of “CODA” to a period piece featuring hundreds of extras recreating the occupation of the San Francisco Federal Building. The ensemble includes Michael Patrick Thornton, Russell Harvard, Daniel Durant, and blind debutante Charlie Rush-Reese, who described the project as inspiring for disabled youth.
Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo appears as a bureaucrat stalling on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, while Dylan O’Brien, Rob Delaney, and Ray Fisher round out the supporting cast. O’Brien noted that while he initially joined for the excitement of the project, he was galvanized by the story’s deeper significance.
Heder’s direction also tackles previously underrepresented aspects of the disabled experience, including romantic and sexual intimacy, treating these characters as full human beings rather than objects of pity or inspiration. The film reinforces that the disability rights movement has always been about recognition and desire, not just legislative access.
With its crowd-pleasing nature, “Being Heumann” is now in contention for the People’s Choice Award at TIFF. Historically, winners of this audience-voted prize, such as “Nomadland” and “12 Years a Slave,” have seen their Oscar prospects significantly boosted. If the film succeeds in Toronto, Madeley is expected to enter the Best Actress conversation, while the screenplay, ensemble casting, and production design are also viewed as viable categories.
The film will release in theaters on November 6 before streaming on Apple TV. Screenings at the festival featured open captions, ASL interpreters, and live captioning for Q&A sessions.
It is wild to think Apple had the budget to scale this up like Dog Day Afternoon. Really hoping the People’s Choice Award follows Nomadland’s path here.
Finally, a disabled lead who isn’t just patient or inspirational. Madeley’s combative performance sounds refreshing and necessary.