First Teaser for Sian Heder’s ‘Being Heumann’ Film on Judy Heumann
by Alex Billington
September 2, 2026
Source: YouTube
“Judy didn’t wait for change. She fought to make it happen.” Apple TV has revealed the first teaser trailer for the film titled Being Heumann, the latest feature made by acclaimed Oscar-winning filmmaker Sian Heder – best known for her Best Picture winning film CODA. This is premiering at the 2026 Toronto Film Festival in a few weeks as the Opening Night world premiere up there. The title is a reference to the actual woman named Judy Heumann, a disability rights activist who lead a campaign back in the 1970s. The film stars Ruth Madeley as Judy Heumann and opens in November this fall. In 1977, disability rights activist Judy Heumann leads a historic 28-day occupation of San Francisco’s Federal Building, uniting protesters in a fight for accessibility laws & equal rights. A powerful new film that chronicles the “mother of the disability rights movement,” Judy Heumann, as she leads a group of young adults who come together to find their collective voice in a fight against discrimination. Being Heumann stars Mark Ruffalo, Madeline Delp, Dylan O’Brien, Will Brill, Michael Patrick Thornton, Antwan Tolliver, Rein Barcel, Charlie Rush-Reese, and many others. I’m a big fan of CODA & will definitely watch this one when it’s out this fall.
Here’s the first teaser trailer (+ poster) for Sian Heder’s film Being Heumann, direct from YouTube:
They wouldn’t take Judy Heumann’s phone calls, so she took their building. Back in 1977, a young disabled woman (Ruth Madeley) and a scrappy coalition of outsiders decide they’ve had enough. What begins as one impulsive act becomes the longest occupation of a federal building in American history, as hundreds spontaneously seize government offices & refuse to leave until the bureaucrat in their way (Mark Ruffalo) takes action. Bringing rebellion in all its forms to the hallowed halls, a movement’s accidental leaders struggle to find their path forward where none has ever been paved for them. Directed by Academy Award winner Sian Heder and based on true events, Being Heumann is the revolutionary, irreverent and deeply human story of the least likely people trying to pull off the impossible and change the lives of millions. ♿
Being Heumann is written and directed by Oscar-winning American filmmaker Sian Heder, director of the films Tallulah and CODA (which won Best Picture) previously, plus episodes of “Orange is the New Black” and “Little America”. Adapted from the memoir of the same name written by Judith Heumann & Kristen Joiner. Produced by Siân Heder, David Permut, Kevin Walsh, John W Beach, and Kevin Cleary. This is first premiering at the 2026 Toronto Film Festival this fall. Apple TV will then debut Heder’s Being Heumann in select US theaters on November 6th, 2026 then streaming on Apple TV starting November 13th, 2026.
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