Dylan O’Brien’s Being Heumann Opens TIFF 2026: Inside the CODA Director’s Powerful New Film

Toronto just kicked off its 2026 film festival with a heavyweight opening night, and Dylan O’Brien is at the center of it. Being Heumann, the highly anticipated follow-up from CODA’s Oscar-winning director Siân Heder, premiered as TIFF’s official opening film — and it’s already generating serious awards-season buzz.

What Is Being Heumann About?

The film chronicles the life of Judy Heumann, the legendary disability rights activist, and centers on the landmark 1977 protest where Heumann and over 100 disabled activists occupied a federal building in San Francisco for 26 days — the longest occupation of a federal building in U.S. history. Their fight ultimately helped pave the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Dylan O’Brien’s Role in the Film

O’Brien plays Evan White, a local TV reporter who initially covers the protests with detached curiosity before becoming genuinely galvanized by the movement. Describing his decision to join the project, O’Brien called it a chance for a “punk rock summer,” admitting the experience ended up being far more meaningful than he originally anticipated.

Dylan O’Brien: Cast and Key Details

A Deliberately Different Approach Than CODA

Unlike CODA, which used a hearing character as the audience’s entry point into a Deaf family’s world, Being Heumann keeps its non-disabled characters — including O’Brien’s reporter and Mark Ruffalo’s reluctant government official — firmly on the perimeter of the story. Reviewers have noted this is a deliberate choice, ensuring the film centers disabled voices rather than framing their fight through an outsider’s awakening.

A Landmark Cast of Disabled Actors

Heder cast actors with disabilities across much of the ensemble, including Andrew Pilkington, Madeline Delp, and CODA alum Daniel Durant. Ruth Madeley, who plays Heumann and has been a wheelchair user since birth, noted this was the first time she’d been on a set where she wasn’t the only disabled performer — something not possible without accessibility built into production.

Early Reception at TIFF

Critics have generally praised the film’s ambition and ensemble performances, though some reviews noted its two-hour-plus runtime feels long, even if that length mirrors the grueling reality of the actual 26-day sit-in. Still, Being Heumann is already being positioned as one of Apple’s stronger awards-season contenders this year.

Dylan O’Brien’s career has spanned genre franchises and acclaimed independent work alike, a trajectory outlined in more detail on Wikipedia’s Dylan O’Brien page.

For more TIFF 2026 coverage and awards-season film breakdowns, check out the entertainment updates on technosports.co.in.

Final Thoughts

Being Heumann marks a significant step for disability representation in mainstream cinema, and Dylan O’Brien’s grounded performance as an outsider learning to listen adds another compelling layer to Heder’s ambitious follow-up to CODA. With its Apple TV release just weeks away, expect the awards conversation around this film to only grow louder.

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