After a buzzy debut in Berlin eight months ago, Romanian-Belgian filmmaker Teodora Ana Mihai has finally taken her latest feature on the international road. “Heysel 85” received its Asian premiere this week at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival, screening in the International Competition alongside 14 other films from 31 countries and regions.
Mihai walked the rain-soaked TIFF red carpet with star Violet Braeckman, where she is competing for the Tokyo Grand Prix for the third time — she was previously selected for “Traffic” and “La Civil.”
Heysel 85 (Credits: Menuetto / Icon Film)
Heysel 85: Inside the Film About the 1985 Stadium Disaster
Directed by Mihai from a screenplay co-written with Lode Desmet and Isabelle Darras, “Heysel 85” is inspired by the 1985 Heysel Stadium disaster in Brussels, where 39 people died ahead of the European Cup Final between Liverpool and Juventus.
“This is one of those moments in Belgium that’s comparable to 9/11 in the US. It was a huge event; people were shocked,” Mihai told Deadline of the disaster’s legacy in her home country. Braeckman stars as the daughter of the Mayor of Brussels, with Matteo Simoni as a journalist drawn into the unfolding tragedy, alongside Josse De Pauw, Fabrizio Rongione and Paolo Calabresi.
Teodora Ana Mihai’s Next Feature: Deux Vies and a UK Release
Mihai is already lining up what comes next. Her new project “Deux Vies”, a dark relationship drama co-scripted with Ans Vroom and actress Natali Broods (who will play the lead), will be pitched at the Flanders Film Days showcase alongside Film Fest Gent.
Meanwhile, “Heysel 85” continues its festival march: after its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival on October 15, the 92-minute film opens in UK cinemas on November 20 via Icon Film Distribution.
Also Read: How Keanu Reeves Joined Japanese Stop-Motion Samurai Epic ‘Hidari’ After One Pilot Screening
Also Read: Rasoulof and Sadat Reject Separate Oscar Category for Exiled Filmmakers as Fund Hits Tokyo
Source: Deadline — read the full story there.
