Next Floor

Next Floor is a 2008 Canadian short drama film, directed by Denis Villeneuve.[1] The film, largely wordless, depicts a group of eleven people endlessly gorging themselves on food at a banquet.[1]

Next Floor
Film poster
Directed byDenis Villeneuve
Produced byPhoebe Greenberg
Karen Murphy
Screenplay byJacques Davidts
Story byCaroline Binet
Phoebe Greenberg
Based onAn original idea
by Phoebe Greenberg
StarringJean Marchand
Matthieu Handfield
Sébastian René
Emmanuel Schwartz
Music byWarren Slim Williams
CinematographyNicolas Bolduc
Edited bySophie Leblond
Release date
May 15, 2008 (Cannes)
Running time
11 minutes
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish

Synopsis

During an opulent and luxurious banquet, attended by servers and valets, eleven pampered guests participate in what appears to be ritualistic gastronomic carnage.

Characters and cast
  • Maître D • Jean Marchand
  • Servers • Mathieu Handfield, Sébastien René, Emmanuel Schwartz
  • Diners • Simone Chevalot, Ken Fernandez, Ariel Ifergan, Sergiy Marchenko, Deepak Massand, Gaétan Nadeau, Charles Papasoff, Daniel Rousse, Helga Schmitz, Dennis St-John, Valérie Wiseman

Production background

The film was conceived by producer Phoebe Greenberg and directed by Villeneuve during a break from production of his feature film Polytechnique.[2]

Release and reception

The film premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, as part of the Semaine de la critique program.[3]

Critical response

For Indiewire, journalist Zach Hollwedel theorized that the banquet attendees were in hell, and being forced to atone for their gluttonous lifestyles when they were alive, or that the film was a metaphorical comment on the voracious and destructive nature of human consumerism.[1]

Accolades

At Cannes, the film received the Canal+ prize for the best short film in its program.[4]

The film received a special jury citation for the Toronto International Film Festival Award for Best Canadian Short Film at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival,[5] and won the Genie Award for Best Live Action Short Drama at the 29th Genie Awards[6] and the Prix Jutra for Best Short Film at the 11th Jutra Awards.[7]

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References
  1. "Watch: Denis Villeneuve’s Perplexing 2008 Short Film ‘Next Floor’". Indiewire, May 27, 2015.
  2. " Egoyan movie wins prize at Cannes for spiritual values; Another Canadian film wins award for short movie". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, May 26, 2008.
  3. "Montrealer Denis Villeneuve takes new short to Cannes film fest". Montreal Gazette, April 26, 2008.
  4. "Short film winner conceived by Ottawan; Gluttony-themed Next Floor wins top prize for producer Greenberg, celebrated director Villeneuve". Ottawa Citizen, May 25, 2008.
  5. "Slumdog takes the people's prize; LeBron James documentary tapped as runner-up". Toronto Star, September 14, 2008.
  6. "Quebec movie scores three major Genies; Pilon's Ce qu'il faut pour vivre Gross's Passchendaele also big winner". Montreal Gazette, April 5, 2009.
  7. "Two films share spotlight; The Jutras". Montreal Gazette, March 30, 2009.
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