Siân Heder Follows 'CODA' With Apple's 'Being Heumann' Premiere at TIFF

Oscar-winning filmmaker Siân Heder returned to the festival circuit at the Toronto International Film Festival with "Being Heumann," a biographical drama chronicling the life and advocacy of disability rights pioneer Judy Heumann.

The feature centers on Heumann's leadership during the landmark 1977 sit-in, in which activists occupied a federal building for 26 days to demand the enforcement of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Introducing the film at the Princess of Wales Theatre's Visa Screening Room, Heder pointed to the current sociopolitical climate. She remarked that the story arrives at a moment when "a lot of people are being left behind," emphasizing ongoing battles for justice across multiple fronts, as reported by TheWrap.

## Apple Reunites With Heder

The premiere marks a major reunion between Heder and Apple. The tech giant previously acquired Heder's "CODA" out of a virtual Sundance in 2021 for a record sum, eventually orchestrating an upset campaign that won Best Picture over Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog." Unlike that festival breakout, Apple held the rights to "Being Heumann" well ahead of its Toronto bow.

For Apple Original Films, the project represents a deliberate attempt to repeat a proven prestige formula. Locking down Heder's follow-up before the festival circuit avoided a bidding war while providing the streamer with another awards-tailored narrative powered by authentic casting and disabled talent.

TheWrap noted that while the new project cannot claim the outsider status that propelled "CODA," it operates as an ambitious and accessible crowd-pleaser that expands the scope of Heder's storytelling.