Teodora Ana Mihai Talks Heysel 85 and Next Film in Tokyo

Romanian-Belgian filmmaker Teodora Ana Mihai has presented the Asian premiere of her historical drama Heysel 85 at the Tokyo Film Festival, following its initial debut in Berlin earlier this year. Inspired by the 1985 Brussels stadium disaster that claimed 39 lives during the European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus, the production explores administrative failure through archival materials and 16mm celluloid. European theatrical dates have been set for Belgium and the United Kingdom in November 2026. For Malaysian audiences, however, local theatrical distribution and streaming access remain unconfirmed, with domestic exhibitors and digital platforms yet to acquire licensing rights for the European drama.

Key Facts

Heysel 85 documents the institutional failures behind the 1985 Brussels stadium disaster, combining archival recordings with 16mm celluloid cinematography. The feature held its Asian premiere at the Tokyo Film Festival ahead of scheduled European cinema rollouts across Belgium and the United Kingdom in November 2026, while Malaysian distribution remains unannounced.

What Is the Story Behind Heysel 85?

Heysel 85 dramatises the structural and political crisis surrounding the 1985 European Cup Final in Brussels, where 39 supporters died. The narrative focuses on an incapacitated mayor's daughter and an Italian television journalist reporting live while searching for his family, prioritising systemic accountability over physical disaster recreation.

Screenwriters Teodora Ana Mihai, Lode Desmet, and Isabelle Darras crafted the script after producer Hans Everaert suggested the historical material. Starring Violet Braeckman as Marie and Matteo Simoni as Luca, the film inspects police and government inaction when hooligans rampaged before kick-off. Director of photography Marius Panduru shot the live-action sequences on 16mm film to blend with archival broadcasts, requiring production days to be reduced to manage costs. To achieve visual continuity with historical television archives, director Teodora Ana Mihai captured the live-action sequences on 16mm celluloid despite strict budget restrictions.

What Is Teodora Ana Mihai Directing Next?

Teodora Ana Mihai is developing her fourth feature film, titled Two Lives, structured as an intimate domestic chamber piece. The drama depicts a family holiday disrupted by the sudden death of a brother, leaving his widow to navigate profound bereavement while maintaining parental duties for her two adolescent sons.

The project follows Mihai's previous directorial credits, which include the 2014 documentary Waiting for August, her 2024 feature Traffic, and Heysel 85. Cinematographer Marius Panduru is slated to reunite with Mihai for their fourth joint film production. Director Teodora Ana Mihai confirmed that Two Lives will examine the societal pressures of motherhood following unexpected spousal bereavement.

What It Means for Viewers in Malaysia

Malaysian cinema distribution, local ratings from the Film Censorship Board (LPF), and digital streaming availability for Heysel 85 have not been confirmed. Although European distributor Kinepolis and Icon have scheduled November 2026 releases in Belgium and the UK, no regional commercial acquisition has been secured for Malaysia.

Domestic multiplex operators, including Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC), TGV Cinemas, MBO Cinemas, and Lotus Five Star (LFS), typically schedule European independent titles through annual embassy-backed showcases or specialised film weeks rather than wide theatrical windows. Furthermore, international streaming services operating domestically—such as Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, HBO Max, Viu, iQIYI, or Astro—have announced no streaming licences. Neither Malaysian cinema circuits nor domestic streaming platforms have acquired distribution rights for Teodora Ana Mihai's Heysel 85.

Common Questions

International distribution for Heysel 85 begins in European markets in November 2026, documenting systemic accountability during the 1985 European Cup Final tragedy. Below are verified answers outlining the factual basis of the 1985 stadium disaster, territorial cinema schedules, and the primary cast members featured in the production.

Is Heysel 85 based on a true historical event?

Yes, Heysel 85 depicts the 29 May 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster in Brussels, Belgium. Occurring ahead of the European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus, spectator unrest and structural collapses led to the deaths of 39 supporters and left hundreds injured.

When is Heysel 85 scheduled for cinema release?

Heysel 85 will be released in Belgian cinemas on 18 November 2026 through Kinepolis, followed by a United Kingdom release on 20 November 2026 via Icon. The film previously screened at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Tokyo Film Festival.

Who are the lead actors in Heysel 85?

Violet Braeckman and Matteo Simoni play the central roles. Braeckman portrays Marie, the mayor's daughter who steps forward to manage civic responsibilities during the disaster, while Simoni portrays Luca, an Italian journalist searching for his family while reporting on the football match.

Sources and Methodology

This report synthesises reporting by international correspondent Zac Ntim for Deadline, published on 30 October 2026 from the Tokyo Film Festival. Information includes on-the-record statements from director Teodora Ana Mihai detailing production techniques on 16mm celluloid, festival premieres in Berlin and Tokyo, and forthcoming release schedules.

ROCKSTARmedia Movies evaluated all technical credits, European distributor commitments, and future feature plans directly against primary interview transcripts. Because the source material contained no financial budget totals or box office numbers, no monetary estimates or ringgit conversions were performed. Primary documentation for this dispatch originates from Zac Ntim's festival report published by Deadline on 30 October 2026.