TIFF 2026 opens with 'Being Heumann,' an Oscar winner's film on disability rights

The 51st Toronto International Film Festival opened Thursday night at Roy Thomson Hall with "Being Heumann," an Oscar-winning film about disability rights activist Judy Heumann and her fight for accessibility and equality.

Directed by Oscar winner Sian Heder and starring British actress Ruth Madeley, the film depicts the 1977 San Francisco sit-in that lasted about 25 days at the federal Department of Health, Education, and Welfare building. Participants—people with disabilities, people of colour, and people in LGBTQ2+ communities—pushed for disability rights legislation. The ensemble cast includes Daniel Durant, Ali Stroker, Ray Fisher, and Dylan O'Brien.

The film received a standing ovation from the opening-night crowd. At 2 hours 7 minutes, it carries a thematic weight that landed clearly: a character using a letter board delivers the line that frames the film's philosophy—"Disability is not a tragedy. It is a tremendous hassle."

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow spoke before the screening and noted a milestone. "TIFF 2026 was the first time the festival had a fully accessible red carpet," she said, adding that the accessible red carpet will remain for future TIFFs.

The film's four-and-a-half-star rating reflects its emotional and political resonance at a moment when the festival draws thousands to Toronto this week. The opening choice signals the festival's commitment to centering stories about systemic change and the people who drive it.