The 2026 Toronto International Film Festival is set to kick off with the debut of the biographical film “Being Heumann,” as confirmed by event organizers on Tuesday. Adapted from the well-received 2020 memoir of the same title, the movie, directed by Siân Heder, chronicles the life story of Judy Heumann, a notable advocate for disability rights. The lead roles will be portrayed by Ruth Madeley as Judy Heumann and Mark Ruffalo as former U.S. health secretary Joseph Califano.
Heder, the talented filmmaker behind the award-winning “CODA,” is making history as the fourth woman to have her film open the festival, following the footsteps of Sally El Hosaini’s “The Swimmers” in 2022, Deepa Mehta’s “Water” in 2005, and Patricia Rozema’s “I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing” in 1987. Additionally, the festival will feature the world premieres of Susanna White’s “Prima Facie” and Hur Jin-ho’s “Assassin(s).”
“Prima Facie” stars the Oscar-nominated actress Cynthia Erivo and delves into the narrative of a defense attorney representing accused sexual offenders who becomes a victim of sexual assault herself. On the other hand, “Assassin(s)” focuses on the true-life 1974 attempted assassination of South Korean President Park Chung-hee, with Park Hae-il taking on the role of a news editor attempting to unravel the mysteries surrounding the assassination.
The upcoming TIFF will run from Sept. 10 to 20, with the official film lineup for its 51st edition set to be unveiled on August 11. The previous year’s festival showcased over 200 films, including North American or global premieres of highly anticipated movies 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 festival’s 50th-anniversary edition marked a significant comeback after facing challenges in previous years due to factors like the COVID-19 pandemic, strikes affecting the film industry, and unforeseen events like the passing of Queen Elizabeth during the opening day of the 2022 festival. However, the success of “Hamnet,” TIFF’s 2025 People’s Choice winner, receiving an Oscar nomination for best picture, reaffirmed the festival’s influence on the awards season trajectory.
Since 2008, almost every People’s Choice winner at TIFF has gone on to secure a major Oscar nomination, underscoring the festival’s reputation as the “people’s festival.” This track record has attracted major studios to showcase their top-tier films at TIFF, distinguishing it from other more elite film festivals like Cannes or Venice.
The 51st Toronto International Film Festival will be hosted across 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. A new addition this year is the John Bassett Theatre at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, which will also host screenings.
Tickets for the festival will be available for purchase starting August 21 for TIFF members and August 31 for the general public.