The 2026 Toronto International Film Festival is set to kick off with the premiere of the biographical film “Being Heumann,” as announced by organizers on Tuesday. The movie, also a well-received memoir from 2020, is directed by Siân Heder and portrays the life of Judy Heumann, a prominent advocate for disability rights. The lead roles will be taken on by Ruth Madeley as Judy Heumann and Mark Ruffalo as former U.S. health secretary Joseph Califano.
Siân Heder, known for the award-winning film “CODA” that won Best Picture at the Oscars in 2022, will become the fourth female director to open the festival. Previous female directors who opened the festival include Sally El Hosaini with “The Swimmers” in 2022, Deepa Mehta with “Water” in 2005, and Patricia Rozema with “I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing” in 1987.
Two other films set to premiere at the festival were also announced on Tuesday: Susanna White’s “Prima Facie” and Hur Jin-ho’s “Assassin(s).” “Prima Facie,” starring Cynthia Erivo, tells the story of a defense attorney who is sexually assaulted while representing accused sexual offenders, adapted from Suzie Miller’s one-woman stage play and screenplay. On the other hand, “Assassin(s)” focuses on the 1974 attempted assassination of South Korean president Park Chung-hee, with Park Hae-il playing a news editor trying to unravel unanswered questions surrounding the incident.
The Toronto International Film Festival is scheduled to run from Sept. 10-20 this year, with the lineup of films for the 51st edition to be revealed on Aug. 11. Last year’s festival showcased over 200 titles and premiered some of the most anticipated films of the following year, such as Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet,” Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein,” Curry Barker’s horror hit “Obsession,” and Rian Johnson’s “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.”
The 50th-anniversary festival marked a return to form for TIFF after facing challenges in previous years, including the impact of COVID-19 and other disruptions. The festival regained its status as an awards season predictor when “Hamnet” won the People’s Choice award in 2025 and received an Oscars nomination for Best Picture.
Since 2008, almost every People’s Choice winner at TIFF has gone on to secure a top Oscar nomination, reinforcing TIFF’s reputation as the “people’s festival.” This track record has attracted major studios to showcase their premieres at TIFF, known for being more accessible compared to other critic-focused events like Cannes or Venice.
The 51st annual Toronto International Film Festival will take place at various venues, including TIFF Lightbox, Roy Thomson Hall, the Visa Screening Room at the Princess of Wales Theatre, Cineplex’s Scotiabank Theatre, Cinema Park, and the Royal Alexandra Theatre. Additionally, screenings will be held at the new venue, the John Bassett Theatre at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Tickets for the festival will be available for TIFF members starting on Aug. 21 and for the general public on Aug. 31.
