LONNOW.COMCULTURE
Being Heumann at BFI London Film Festival: screenings and access
Siân Heder’s drama follows Judith Heumann and the collective fight for disability rights. The listed Friday 16 October screening is at Vue West End, with audio description and descriptive subtitles; the South Bank screenings have passed.
The film and its historical focus
Being Heumann centres disability-rights activist Judith Heumann and the people who occupied San Francisco’s federal building for 28 days in 1977 while pressing government officials to enforce anti-discrimination protections.
The festival presents it as a drama about a tenacious collective rather than a lone-hero story. Choose it for political history, organising and ensemble performance; it is not a documentary screening or a live talk.
- Remaining screenings
- 16 October · 14:50 · Vue West End EPIC 1
- Film
- USA 2026 · 127 minutes · English
- Director
- Siân Heder
- Principal cast
- Ruth Madeley, Madeline Delp, Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O’Brien, Rob Delaney
- Access
- Audio description and descriptive subtitles for the 16 October showing
- Tickets
- 16 October £13 before eligible discounts and booking fees; prices checked 14 October
- Checked
- 14 October 2026
On this page
Director, writers and cast
Siân Heder directs from a screenplay by Heder and Rebekah Taussig.
Ruth Madeley plays Heumann; the official credits also name Madeline Delp, Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O’Brien and Rob Delaney. The film is from the USA, in English, and runs 127 minutes.
The BFI page does not announce a Q&A or guest appearance for the 16 October screening, so the ticket should be valued as a screening rather than a promised live event.
The 16 October screening
The Friday screening begins at 14:50 in Vue West End EPIC 1, 3 Cranbourn Street, WC2H 7AL.
It suits a West End afternoon with a nearby meal rather than a transfer from the South Bank. The 13 October Royal Festival Hall showing has passed.
Keep the confirmation’s venue and screen name with the ticket.
Prices and availability
The weekday London-cinema matinee price is £13, rechecked on 14 October.
Eligible 16–25 account holders may find £6 tickets, subject to availability. Non-Members pay £1 per ticket for online or phone bookings, capped at £3 per transaction; box-office purchases have no booking fee.
The direct film page may require its live booking selector to show seats, so this guide does not promise inventory.
Audio description, subtitles and access booking
The 16 October screening lists audio description and descriptive subtitles.
The BFI reserves some access seats, including wheelchair positions and seats chosen for specific needs, even when general tickets appear sold out. Access tickets and companion tickets use the dedicated festival access route.
Royal Festival Hall and Vue West End are listed as wheelchair and step-free venues, but equipment, seating and assistance should still be confirmed with the festival before travelling.
Past venue: Royal Festival Hall
The 12 and 13 October Royal Festival Hall screenings have finished.
Their Belvedere Road address and South Bank transport notes do not apply to the 16 October Vue West End showing. This historical venue record remains here to explain the festival run; use Cranbourn Street and EPIC 1 for Friday.
Getting to Vue West End on 16 October
Vue West End is at 3 Cranbourn Street by Leicester Square.
BFI lists wheelchair and step-free access, and tickets are bought through the festival rather than the ordinary cinema sales route. Use the address and EPIC 1 screen from the confirmation.
Build the meal or nearby stop around Leicester Square rather than assuming the South Bank venue details apply to this repeat.
Content advice and who it suits
BFI flags scenes of ableism and drug use, including ableist attitudes and language.
The film may suit viewers interested in civil rights, recent history, public policy and ensemble drama. Anyone looking for a shorter festival stop should note the 127-minute runtime before adding travel, queueing and a second booking.
Keep the rest of the day flexible enough for access arrangements and the actual time needed to leave the auditorium.
Questions, answered
When are the remaining Being Heumann London screenings?
The listed remaining showing is Friday 16 October at 14:50 in Vue West End EPIC 1. The 12 and 13 October Royal Festival Hall screenings have passed.
How long is Being Heumann?
The official BFI listing gives a runtime of 127 minutes.
Who directs and stars in the film?
Siân Heder directs. The official cast includes Ruth Madeley, Madeline Delp, Mark Ruffalo, Dylan O’Brien and Rob Delaney.
Are the screenings accessible?
The 16 October showing lists audio description and descriptive subtitles. Use BFI’s access booking route for access seats and companion tickets.
Is there a Q&A?
The official page checked on 14 October does not announce a Q&A or guest appearance for the 16 October screening.
