Heysel 85 (2026)
They were in charge. Until they weren't.
Director: Teodora Ana Mihai · Writers: Teodora Ana Mihai, Lode Desmet, Isabelle Darras
When 39 people are killed prior to the European Cup at the Brussels Heysel stadium in 1985, the mayor's daughter and an Italian journalist are torn between their professional assignments, family, and human nature.
Trailer
Director
Teodora Ana Mihai
Cast
Matteo Simoni
Luca Rossi 
Violet Braeckman
Marie Dumont 
Josse De Pauw
Marc Dumont 
Ben Segers
Filip Mertens 
Fabrizio Rongione
Albert Simons 
Bobby Schofield
Alan Kennedy 
Jeroen Van der Ven
Thomas Verbruggen 
Dominique Dauwe
Michael Schmuck 
Jonathan Sawdon
Jeremy Bennett 
Emanuela Ponzano
Monica Fresia 
Pieter Verelst
Frank Moulin 
Julian De Backer
Broadcasting Director User Reviews (1)
A dense, minute-by-minute account of the tragic events of 29 May 1985 at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels. From the very first moments, the atmosphere is tense; as spectators, we share the same awareness as those in charge that day. The warning signs were there from the beginning, and the elements needed to foresee and prevent the disaster were already in place. I appreciated the film’s chosen perspective, the strong lead performance, and the distinctly European scope of the ensemble. Special mention goes to the cinematography and the decision to shoot on 16mm Kodak Vision3, which well blends with the archival footage and fully immerses us in 1985 without ever resembling a cheap television reenactment. The film frames not only the institutional failure to prevent and adequately respond to the tragedy, but also attempts to examine how each character, major or minor, is caught betwee…
