Director Sian Heder used the opening night of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival to argue that "collective action matters," introducing her new film Being Heumann about disability-rights activism. The premiere, held at Roy Thomson Hall, carried added political resonance given growing tensions between Canada and the United States under President Donald Trump, with Heder noting that rights won in the 1970s "are under threat" and that it is "easy to feel helpless" amid today's activism.

Being Heumann, starring Ruth Madeley and produced by Apple Original Films, dramatises the 1977 protest campaign led by Judy Heumann that helped launch the US disability-rights movement and paved the way for the Americans With Disabilities Act. Heder brought her cast of disabled actors on stage for a post-screening Q&A, while Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also spoke, alluding to Trump's renaming of Lake Ontario as "Lake America" amid stalled trade talks. With roughly two-thirds of Canadian film and TV exports going to the US market, the ongoing trade dispute is expected to loom over the festival, which runs until 20 September.