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Being Heumann is a new drama made by Apple Studios and directed by Sian Heder, best known for CODA, which won the Academy Award for best picture in 2022. The film is about Judith Heumann, a real-life disability rights advocate, and stars actress Ruth Madeley in the lead role. It has been chosen to open the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), one of the world's most prominent film festivals, held annually in Canada each September.

TIFF is significant in the film industry calendar because it often serves as an early platform for films that go on to attract major awards attention, and the choice of opening film is seen as a statement about the festival's priorities and tone for that year. This year's festival, its 51st, will also feature world premieres of two other notable films: Prima Facie, a legal drama from British director Susanna White starring Cynthia Erivo, and The Assassin(s), from South Korean director Hur Jin-ho.

Together, these selections reflect the festival's stated aim of showcasing a broad mix of directors and stories from different countries and backgrounds, including work that centres on disability representation and international filmmaking talent.