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‘Being Heumann’ Review: A Lively Biopic Celebrating Disability Rights Activism
Confirmed
In Short: Siân Heder’s follow-up to 'CODA' is a crowd-pleasing and life-affirming biopic that recounts the 1977 occupation of a San Francisco federal building by disabled activists demanding equal rights.
Siân Heder’s 'Being Heumann' is a lively and rousing biopic that captures the true story of Judy Heumann’s tireless efforts in legislating accessibility. The film, directed by Heder and based on real events, follows Heumann and a group of activists who occupied a San Francisco federal building in 1977 to demand the signing of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and its Section 504. This landmark legislation banned discrimination against people with disabilities in government-funded institutions, more than a decade before the ADA was signed into law.
The film is an ensemble piece that explores the backstories of the activists, each contributing to the film’s humorous and touching heartbeat. Madeline Delp plays Kitty Cone, whose selfless compassion challenges Heumann’s radical approach, while Charlie Rush-Reese gives a heartfelt performance as a new activist who finds his voice throughout the film. Roberta Colindrez portrays Heumann’s confidant and fellow activist Joni Breves, who uses her able privilege to help care for the other protesters during the sit-in.
Heder and her cast aim to entertain as well as inform, with plenty of laughs that never come at the expense of the importance of the legislation. The film is a powerful new feature that chronicles Heumann’s leadership in the disability rights movement, marking the second collaboration between Apple Original Films and Heder, who previously directed the multi-Academy Award-winning 'CODA.
Being Heumann opens in select theaters on November 6, 2026, and on Apple TV on November 13, 2026. The film is a deeply human story of the least likely people trying to pull off the impossible and change the lives of millions. It is a reminder of the power of activism and the importance of equal rights for all.
What's confirmed
- Siân Heder’s 'Being Heumann' is a lively and rousing biopic that captures the true story of Judy Heumann’s tireless efforts in legislating accessibility. The film, directed by Heder and based on real events, follows Heumann and a group of activists who occupied a San Francisco federal building in 1977 to demand the signing of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and its Section 504. This landmark legislation banned discrimination against people with disabilities in government-funded institutions, more than a decade before the ADA was signed into law.
- The film is an ensemble piece that explores the backstories of the activists, each contributing to the film’s humorous and touching heartbeat. Madeline Delp plays Kitty Cone, whose selfless compassion challenges Heumann’s radical approach, while Charlie Rush-Reese gives a heartfelt performance as a new activist who finds his voice throughout the film. Roberta Colindrez portrays Heumann’s confidant and fellow activist Joni Breves, who uses her able privilege to help care for the other protesters during the sit-in.
- Heder and her cast aim to entertain as well as inform, with plenty of laughs that never come at the expense of the importance of the legislation. The film is a powerful new feature that chronicles Heumann’s leadership in the disability rights movement, marking the second collaboration between Apple Original Films and Heder, who previously directed the multi-Academy Award-winning 'CODA.
- Being Heumann opens in select theaters on November 6, 2026, and on Apple TV on November 13, 2026. The film is a deeply human story of the least likely people trying to pull off the impossible and change the lives of millions. It is a reminder of the power of activism and the importance of equal rights for all.
What's still developing
- In the case of Siân Heder, she’s managed to follow up CODA with Being Heumann, a similarly crowd pleasing and life affirming work that this time is telling a true story.
- What starts in that San Francisco office building eventually gets to Washington DC, with history eventually being made.
- At a time when rights are being threatened, seeing how ones were attained in the first place is deeply moving.
- It shows the intimacy and trust that goes into caregiving, it shows that disabled people are as sexual as anyone else, and it shows what it feels like being seen as invisible by society.
- Jon Beavers provides chemistry as an able-bodied romantic opposite for Heumann who is fine with her taking control.
- BEING HEUMANN marks the second collaboration for Apple Original Films and writer/director Siân Heder, who directed the multi-Academy Award winning CODA, which made history as the first with a predominantly deaf cast to receive the Best Picture honor.
- The teaser trailer has been unveiled just ahead of the premiere of Being Heumann as the opening film of the Toronto International Film Festival, set to take place on September 10, 2026.
- SYNOPSIS: They wouldn’t take Judy Heumann’s phone calls, so she took their building.