Apple is returning to familiar creative talent as it aims for another awards-season success. The company has teamed up again with filmmaker Sian Heder, whose 2022 drama CODA made history as the first streaming film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. This time, Heder brings the life of disability rights pioneer Judy Heumann to the screen in Being Heumann.
The film will debut in theaters before arriving on Apple TV+, continuing Apple’s strategy of combining theatrical releases with streaming premieres.
A Story of Courage and Lasting Change
Co-written by Heder and disability advocate Rebekah Taussig, the film stars Ruth Madeley as Judy Heumann. Madeley, who has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, portrays one of the most influential disability rights activists in American history.
Heumann contracted polio as a young child and spent much of her life using a wheelchair. She later became a driving force behind the disability rights movement, leading the landmark 504 Sit-ins in 1977. Those demonstrations pushed the U.S. government to enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which banned discrimination against people with disabilities in federally funded programs.
Heder has described Heumann as determined, compassionate, and inspiring. Meanwhile, Madeley said she felt honored to meet Heumann before her death in 2023 and called the opportunity to portray her both meaningful and deeply personal.
Festival Premiere Before Apple TV+
Being Heumann is based on Heumann’s bestselling memoir of the same name. The film will open the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival in September. After its festival debut, it will receive a theatrical release on November 6, 2026, followed by its Apple TV+ premiere on November 13.
Can Apple Repeat Oscar Success?
Apple’s latest awards hopes may depend on its theatrical release strategy. Academy Awards rules now require broader cinema distribution before streaming films can qualify for Oscar consideration. Consequently, Being Heumann must complete qualifying theatrical runs in major U.S. markets before becoming eligible.
Although awards remain uncertain, the film already stands out as a tribute to a woman whose activism transformed disability rights. By bringing Judy Heumann’s story to a global audience, Apple continues investing in films that combine compelling storytelling with important social history.
