“Big changes start small”: Teodora Ana Mihai on Heysel 85 at Berlin Film Festival 2026

Director Teodora Ana Mihai joined us at the Berlin Film Festival 2026 to discuss her poignant film Heysel 85. Delving into the tragic 1985 stadium disaster, Mihai explains how the event, though 40 years old, resonates with alarming contemporary relevance, making its themes “very contemporary, very timely”. As a Romanian with Belgium as her “adoptive country”, she felt compelled to revisit this trauma, finding its narrative of negligence and manipulation disturbingly present today. Mihai highlights the powerful journeys of characters like Marie and Luca, whose personal awakenings underscore her belief that “big changes start small”, even through “small changes or small rebellions”. Her feature serves as a vital call to remember history to avoid repeating its mistakes and to inspire reflection and action.