Sian Heder’s activist drama “Being Heumann” will open the 51st edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie, starring Ruth Madeley as disability rights advocate Judith Heumann, will host its world premiere on Sept. 10 at Roy Thomson Hall.
“Being Heumann” is Heder’s follow-up to 2021’s “CODA,” which became a sensation at Sundance and sold to Apple for $25 million before winning the Oscar for best picture. Her new movie is adapted from Heumann’s memoir and follows the activist as she leads over 100 disabled people in a 28-day protest to encourage the government to enforce the section of the Rehabilitation Act that requires all federal spaces to become accessible.
Along with the opening night film, TIFF announced two other world premieres, “Prima Facie” with Cynthia Erivo and “The Assassin(s)” from Korean filmmaker Hur Jin-ho.
“Prima Facie,” which translates to “at first sight,” is based on Suzie Miller’s acclaimed one-woman play about a high-powered London attorney who defends clients who were accused of sexual assault. Her belief in the legal system is rocked after she is raped by a colleague. Jodie Comer originated the role in the stage version and won a Tony and Olivier award for the Broadway and West End productions.
