Entertainment · Film · 4 hrs ago
Sian Heder Uses Oscar-Winning Clout to Make Judy Heumann Film
Sian Heder followed her Oscar-winning film CODA with Being Heumann, which she wrote and directed.
The film tells the story of Judy Heumann, a leading disability rights activist who died in 2023.
In 1977, Heumann led a 28-day occupation of San Francisco’s Federal Building to demand accessibility laws and equal rights.
Heder said her success after CODA gave her influence to make a project that might otherwise have been rejected, with 12 disabled lead actors and an accessibility team.
Ruth Madeley plays Heumann, and the cast includes disabled actors, some making their acting debut.
After premieres at TIFF and AFI Fest, the film is being released, and its cast hopes it will affect both the disabled community and the film industry.
Sian Heder wrote and directed Being Heumann, a film about disability rights activist Judy Heumann.
Heder said she used the influence she gained after CODA won the best picture Oscar to get the project made.
The film depicts Heumann leading a 28-day occupation of San Francisco’s Federal Building in 1977.
Ruth Madeley plays Heumann, and the film features a large cast of disabled actors, some acting for the first time.
The film debuted at TIFF earlier this fall and had its AFI Fest premiere on Sunday.
- Who
- Filmmaker Sian Heder made the film about disability rights activist Judy Heumann, played by Ruth Madeley.
- What
- Being Heumann tells the story of Heumann and her disability rights activism.
- When
- The film had its AFI Fest premiere on Sunday. The article was published on October 26, 2026.
- Where
- Heumann led the 1977 occupation at San Francisco’s Federal Building. The film premiered at AFI Fest.
- Why
- Heder said she wanted to use her influence to make a film with disabled leads and tell Heumann’s story.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Judy Heumann led a 28-day occupation of San Francisco’s Federal Building in a fight for accessibility laws and equal rights.
Judy Heumann died.
Being Heumann debuted at TIFF.
Being Heumann had its AFI Fest premiere.
- Film
- Being Heumann
- Writer and director
- Sian Heder
- Judy Heumann actor
- Ruth Madeley
- Occupation
- 28 days at San Francisco’s Federal Building in 1977
- AFI Fest premiere
- Sunday
What people are saying
I think a lot of it for me was like arriving at a moment where I finally could get the yes, and what was I going to use the moment for?
This movie was impossible on paper; this was a movie that probably a lot of people would have said no to if I wasn’t using the capital I had just earned
As a disabled person I was like, ‘Thank God it’s her,’ because I knew it was going to be done right.
I feel like we’re in a real moment now and people can’t look away.