Apple's 'Being Heumann' Opens TIFF with Ruth Madeley and Mark Ruffalo

Key points

• Apple Original Films released a teaser for 'Being Heumann' on September 2, 2026.
• The film will be the opening night feature at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 10.
• It stars Ruth Madeley as disability rights advocate Judy Heumann and Mark Ruffalo as a government bureaucrat.
• The film is based on the 1977 sit-in at the San Francisco Federal Building, which lasted 28 days.
• It is the second collaboration between Heder and Apple, following the Best Picture winner 'CODA'.
• Theatrical release is scheduled for November 6, with an Apple TV premiere on November 13.

Background

Siân Heder previously won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for 'CODA' in 2022. 'Being Heumann' is based on the 2020 memoir of Judy Heumann, who died in 2023 at age 75. The film adapts the true story of the 1977 protest where over 100 disabled individuals occupied a federal building to demand the enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

How outlets are covering it

Deadline and A.V. Club emphasize the film's potential as an awards contender, noting it is Heder's follow-up to 'CODA.' A.V. Club highlights the shift from an intimate family drama to a larger-scale historical movement. t2online.in provides specific historical context, noting the sit-in was 26 days long, whereas Deadline and the official synopsis describe it as 28 days, the longest in U.S. history. All sources agree on the cast, including Dylan O'Brien and Rob Delaney, and the release dates.

Why it matters

The film represents a significant bet by Apple Original Films to replicate the success of 'CODA' in the awards season. It brings a major historical disability rights milestone to the screen, featuring a high-profile cast and a festival premiere that signals its prestige.

What to watch

The film will premiere at TIFF on September 10. It will open in select theaters on November 6, 2026, and stream on Apple TV on November 13, 2026.