Film archive, 2026

Heysel 85

Director Teodora Ana Mihai

1Festival entries

★Avg. rating

1985, the European Cup final, Juventus vs. Liverpool, at Heysel Stadium in Brussels: clashes between fans result in 39 deaths and numerous injuries. Heysel 85 depicts this disaster, realistically re-enacting it from various perspectives, including the mayor’s daughter, who was the city’s public relations officer, and an Italian reporter trying to find his family amid the chaos. It highlights a range of issues: ethnic tensions in Europe; group psychology; official attempts to evade responsibility; ethical considerations in journalism. Inserted documentary footage inserted blends seamlessly with the dramatic scenes.

Stills5

Film details

Director: Teodora Ana Mihai
Country/Region: Belgium, Netherlands, Germany
Year: 2026
Length: 91min
Original language: Dutch
Elsewhere: Letterboxd IMDb Wikidata TMDB Douban

Director

Teodora Ana Mihai

Belgian-Romanian director Mihai blends social themes and visual poetry. Her debut documentary, Waiting for August (2014), won over ten awards. La Civil (2021) won Cannes' Prix de l'Audace. Traffic (2024) won the Warsaw Grand Prix.

From Tokyo International Film Festival 2026, No. 39

Credits

Director: Teodora Ana Mihai
Screenplay: Teodora Ana Mihai, Lode Desmet, Isabelle Darras
Cinematography: Marius Panduru
Editing: Bert Jacobs
Sound: Senjan Jansen
Music: Anna Katharina Bauer
Production design: Hendrik Van Kets
Costume: Linda Maria Bogers
Makeup: Mariël Hoevenaars
Cast: Violet Braeckman, Matteo Simoni, Josse De Pauw

Festival appearances1

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Heysel 85Tokyo International Film Festival 2026, No. 39Competition

Festival history1

东京国际电影节, 2026Competition, Competitive section

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