Judy Heumann lived a storied life, challenging the status quo, exposing governmental flaws, and giving a voice to one of the most marginalized, castaway communities: people with disabilities. She passed away suddenly in 2023 at age 75, after years of involvement in the movie adaptation of her biography, “Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist.” Siân Heder, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker known for CODA (2021), helms the adaptation, titled Being Heumann.  

Halfway through reading Heumann’s memoir, Heder immediately reached out to discuss adapting it for the screen. The two met, and the rest was history. Eleven years later, Being Heumann premiered to a sold-out, ecstatic crowd at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival. 

After the screening, Kasey Dunifer met up with two of the film’s producers, John Beach and Kevin Cleary, on the red carpet to talk about what this film means to them and how they hope it inspires viewers.

Follow our interviewees online:
John Beach IMDb, Instagram
Kevin Cleary IMDb

Follow our interview host online:
Kasey Dunifer

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Credits:

  • Theme music: Eugene Rocco Utley & Karl Vincent
  • Artwork: Danny Jarabek
  • Editor: Danny Jarabek
  • Assistant Producer: Evan Miller