Film

Siân Heder’s ‘Being Heumann’: Making the Hardest Story She Could Imagine After ‘CODA’

By Rhys Dunbar, Film EditorSeptember 10, 2026

Following her Best Picture-winning ‘CODA,’ Siân Heder chose to craft a challenging, deeply personal biopic about disability rights activist Judy Heumann, embracing risk and authenticity.

After winning Best Picture for ‘CODA,’ Siân Heder didn’t rest on her laurels. Instead, she embarked on her most ambitious project yet: a film about Judy Heumann, a pioneering disability rights activist. Titled ‘Being Heumann,’ the film dives into a seminal moment in American civil rights history, emphasizing the everyday struggles of navigating a world often built without accessibility in mind. Heder’s choice reflects her desire to tell the hardest story she could imagine, pushing her filmmaking boundaries beyond comfort zones.

Heder’s approach was rooted in authenticity and risk. She envisioned a film populated by disabled performers, aiming to portray disability not as an afterthought but as central to the story. Ruth Madeley stars as Heumann, and the film opens with a visceral scene of her struggling on a New York City street without curb cuts—an everyday obstacle that embodies systemic neglect. This opening sets the tone for a film that refuses to shy away from uncomfortable truths and personal sacrifice.

The narrative moves forward four years, capturing Heumann’s fight to enforce Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the first federal civil rights protection for people with disabilities. Heder’s depiction of Heumann’s activism is both inspiring and gritty, emphasizing the barriers faced by disabled Americans and the collective effort to dismantle them. The film aims to feel more like a tense, real-life drama akin to ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ than a sanitized cultural lesson, making the personal political in every scene.

The film’s production was a bold departure for Heder, who wanted to challenge Hollywood’s often superficial handling of disability narratives. She took on a story that was not only risky but also deeply necessary, choosing to center disabled performers and real stories over convenience. ‘Being Heumann’ is a testament to her willingness to confront the hardest stories and bring them to the forefront, reflecting her growth as a filmmaker committed to social change.

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