Sian Heder’s ‘Being Heumann’ to Open TIFF 2026, Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Prima Facie’ to World Premiere

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.

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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.

“The Assassin(s)” is described as political thriller that follows the 1974 assassination attempt of Korean president Park Chung-hee. Yoo Hae-jin, Park Hae-il and Lee Min-ho star in the film.

““We’re thrilled to open this year’s festival with Siân Heder’s inspiring follow-up to her Oscar-winning CODA,” said TIFF’s CEO Cameron Bailey. “’Being Heumann’ features an electric performance from Ruth Madeley in the story of Judy Heumann, a world-changing advocate for accessibility. We’re also glad to reveal the news that Toronto audiences will be the first to see Cynthia Erivo in Susanna White’s searing legal drama ‘Prima Facie,’ and that the South Korean power duo of director Hur Jin-ho and superstar Lee Min-ho will launch their thriller ‘The Assassin(s)’ at our 51st festival. Lots more to come.”

TIFF hasn’t released the full lineup for the 2026 edition, which will take place from Sept. 10 through 20.