The Romanian Cultural Institute in Tokyo is supporting director Teodora Ana Mihai’s participation in the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFF), taking place from October 26 to November 4, 2026.
Her latest feature film, *Heysel 85*, has been selected for the festival’s prestigious Official Competition, ranking among the just 15 films chosen from a total of nearly 1,900 global submissions to compete for the Tokyo Grand Prix trophy. This tense historical drama (a Belgium-Netherlands-Germany co-production) recreates the 1985 tragedy at the Brussels stadium, when violence between Juventus and Liverpool soccer fans led to the deaths of 39 people, following the intertwined fates of two characters caught up in the chaos, focusing on the human dimension, the moral dilemmas, and the trauma of the survivors in the face of an avoidable catastrophe. The film’s cinematography is by renowned Romanian cinematographer Marius Panduru, and the lead roles are played by Violet Braeckman and Matteo Simoni.
The Romanian-born director’s appearance at the Tokyo International Film Festival (TIFFCOM)—considered Japan’s largest and most prestigious film event and a Class A competitive festival—includes a packed schedule:
- October 26, October 31, and November 2—the official screenings of *Heysel 85*: The film will have three screenings followed by question-and-answer (Q&A) sessions. At the first public screening, the director will be joined by the lead actress, Violet Braeckman.
- TOKYO TALK (November 2): A roundtable discussion in which Teodora Ana Mihai will converse with Japanese filmmaker Yukiko Sode.
- Asian Students’ Film Conference Jury: The director will serve on the jury for this section and will participate in the deliberations and the awards presentation during the Closing Ceremony on November 4.
Recently included in the “Art” category of the Top 100 Romanians Everywhere (RePatriot Gala, Cotroceni Palace), Teodora Ana Mihai returns for the third consecutive year to the main competition in Tokyo. Supported by ICR Tokyo, her extended presence at this edition reflects the international recognition of Romanian cinema and strengthens bilateral cultural ties within one of Asia’s most important film forums.
