Table of Contents
Three Key Takeaways
- Theophile Mur challenges himself by shifting from drama to dark comedy, crafting a surreal hospital story anchored by a unique tonal shift.
- A daring single-angle shoot with long takes pushes actors to deliver raw, uninterrupted performances, blending comedy and tragedy seamlessly.
- Independent filmmaking’s limitations fueled creative focus, combining practical sets, expert consultation, and VFX to bring a surreal operating room to life.
French-Canadian director, screenwriter, and visual effects artist Theophile Mur brings his darkly comic short Butter Knife to FilmQuest 2025.
Starring a famous surgeon caught in an unsettling hospital takeover, the film blends surreal humor and tragedy in an unbroken narrative style.
Mur’s background in Hollywood VFX informs the film’s striking visual composition, while his collaboration with a seasoned surgeon grounds the surreal story in authenticity.
What drew you to make Butter Knife? Why this story, and why now?
My first movie was a drama and I wanted to do something totally different. I went with a comedy because it challenged my writing and I knew it would make me a better artist. The idea started with a surgeon being handed a butter knife instead of a scalpel and I then built upon that idea.
What surprised you most about the filmmaking process this time—creatively or logistically? Was there a moment on set or in post that completely changed how you saw the story?
I was impressed by how long the takes ended being but felt natural. The last shot when the lights come back on is 5 minutes long, a great achievement for our actors to stay locked in that long and truly deliver.
Is there a moment in the film that feels the most you—something only you could have made?
"When the patient dies and it all goes quiet. It goes from comedy to tragedy and the tone is really unique in that scene."
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making this film?
Shooting it from only one angle. There was no cut to hide the mistakes and the heavy lifting was on the actors and their performances.
"The last shot when the lights come back on is 5 minutes long, a great achievement for our actors to stay locked in that long and truly deliver."
What do you hope audiences take away from your film?
If they laugh and have a good time, my job is done!
How has this film shaped or shifted the kind of stories you want to tell next?
Gave me confidence as a filmmaker and explored a kind of movie that I didn't think I would make. My next movie will a complete 180 because I like to do movies that are really different from each other.
What’s a tool, technique, or resource that really helped you during production?
We shot everything on a black studio and were able to recreate an operation room thanks to a vendor specialized in hospital equipment. The room was then finalized in VFX to really make it alive and believable. Also believe or not but we had advices from a 20 years career surgeon for the movie.
Independent filmmakers often rewrite the rules out of necessity. What do you think is the greatest strength of independent filmmaking, and how did you lean into that on this project? Is there a lesson or breakthrough you’d share with others navigating this path?
"Limitations are good sometimes to focus the story and do as much as you can with what you have."
What does it mean to you to have your film selected for FilmQuest, one of the world’s top reviewed genre film festivals?
It's great and it was in my radar for a while. To be accepted is a great achievement and I'm sure it will be a lot of fun!
FilmQuest celebrates the majesty and might of genre filmmaking across fantasy, horror, sci-fi, action, thriller, western, kung-fu, and beyond. How does your film fit within—or push the boundaries of—genre storytelling?
The film is a surrealist dark comedy, it's not a pure genre movie per say but the feel of it is definitely out there. I think it's pretty original in its form and gives something new to the spectator to explore.
Where do you see this film going next?
I will release the movie online at the end of the year and hopefully get as many eyeballs on my work as possible!
"At the core of all my work is a desire to express myself, and it doesn't hurt if people are entertained along the way."
