Siân Heder’s film "Being Heumann," a biographical portrayal of the late disability rights advocate Judith Heumann, will open the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) this September. The festival announced on Tuesday that the film will have its world premiere on the opening night, September 10, marking the start of the festival, which runs through September 20 in Canada.

"Being Heumann" stars Ruth Madeley as Judith Heumann, who passed away in 2023 and was widely recognized as a pivotal figure in the disability rights movement. Heumann lost her ability to walk at the age of two and spent decades advocating for disability rights, playing a central role in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Her activism and story were previously featured in the 2020 Oscar-nominated documentary "Crip Camp."

The film represents Heder’s follow-up to her 2021 Academy Award-winning film "CODA," which made history as the first film distributed by a streaming service, Apple, to win Best Picture. Apple is also distributing "Being Heumann."

Cameron Bailey, TIFF’s chief executive, expressed enthusiasm about the festival kickoff, highlighting both the film and Madeley’s performance. “We’re thrilled to open this year’s festival with Siân Heder’s inspiring follow-up to her Oscar-winning ‘CODA,’” Bailey said, describing the film as a powerful account of Judy Heumann’s influential advocacy for accessibility.

In addition to "Being Heumann," TIFF also announced gala world premieres for other films, including Susanna White’s legal thriller "Prima Facie," starring Cynthia Erivo, and Hur Jin-ho’s Korean thriller "The Assassin(s)." The festival continues to serve as a significant platform for launching major films during the fall season.