Apple Original Films has unveiled the official trailer for “Being Heumann,” the powerful new drama from Academy Award–winning filmmaker Siân Heder. The trailer arrives just ahead of the film’s Gala presentation at the BFI London Film Festival, following its opening‑night premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it drew early critical acclaim.
Inspired by true events, Being Heumann tells the story of disability rights activist Judy Heumann, whose bold leadership helped ignite a landmark moment in American civil rights history. The film will debut in select theaters on November 6, 2026, and premiere globally on Apple TV on Friday, November 13, 2026.
Trailer Overview
The trailer introduces audiences to the extraordinary 1977 protest that reshaped disability rights in the United States. When government officials refuse to take Judy Heumann’s calls, she and a determined coalition of young disabled activists take matters into their own hands—literally occupying the San Francisco Federal Building in an unprecedented act of civil disobedience.
Led by Ruth Madeley as Judy Heumann, the footage highlights the urgency, frustration, and fierce determination that fueled the longest occupation of a federal building in American history. The trailer balances the intensity of the protest with moments of humor, solidarity, and vulnerability, capturing the spirit of a movement built by people who refused to be ignored.
The bureaucrat standing in their way—played by Mark Ruffalo—becomes the focal point of a standoff that forces the government to confront decades of systemic neglect. As the occupation grows, hundreds join the cause, transforming a spontaneous act of rebellion into a defining moment for millions.
Directed, written, and produced by Siân Heder (CODA), Being Heumann is a character‑driven drama that blends historical truth with emotional storytelling. Heder co‑wrote the screenplay with Rebekah Taussig, crafting a narrative that is both revolutionary and deeply human.
The film explores how ordinary people—outsiders, activists, and accidental leaders—came together to challenge a system that had long excluded them. Their fight for equal rights laid the groundwork for modern disability legislation and reshaped public understanding of accessibility and inclusion.
Cast and Creative Team
The ensemble cast includes:
- Ruth Madeley
- Mark Ruffalo
- Dylan O’Brien
- Madeline Delp
- Roberta Colindrez
- Jon Beavers
- Antwan Tolliver
- Ray Fisher
- Andrew Pilkington
- Michael Patrick Thornton
- Russell Harvard
- Daniel Durant
- Charlie Rush-Reese
- Rio Finnegan
- D’Arcee Charington Neal
- Will Brill
- Rob Delaney
- Matthew August Jeffers
- Siena Rafter
- Rein Barcel
Producers include David Permut, John Beach, Kevin Cleary, and Kevin Walsh, with executive producers Jim LeBrecht, Diana Pokorny, Ann Molin, and Kristen Joiner, co‑author of Judy Heumann’s bestselling memoir Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist.
