Atom Egoyan

Atom Egoyan (; ; born July 19, 1960) is an Armenian-Canadian filmmaker. One of the most preeminent directors of the Toronto New Wave, he emerged during the 1980s and made his career breakthrough with ''Exotica'' (1994), a hyperlink film set in a strip club. He followed this with his most critically acclaimed film, '' The Sweet Hereafter'' (1997), an adaptation of the Russell Banks novel of the same name, for which he received Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Egoyan's other significant films include '' The Adjuster'' (1991), '' Ararat'' (2002), '' Where the Truth Lies'' (2005), ''Adoration'' (2008), ''Chloe'' (2009), '' Devil's Knot'' (2013), and ''Remember'' (2015). His works often explore themes of alienation and isolation, featuring characters whose interactions are mediated through technology, bureaucracy, or other power structures. His films often follow non-linear plot structures, in which events are placed out of sequence in order to elicit specific emotional reactions from the audience by withholding key information. Many of his films also draw on his experiences as a first-generation immigrant, and as a member of the Armenian diaspora.

In addition to his Oscar nods, Egoyan has won eight Genie/Canadian Screen Awards, out of 25 total nominations. He received the 2008 Dan David Prize for "Creative Rendering of the Past" and the 2015 Governor General's Performing Arts Award. He has been a member of the Order of Canada since 1999, and was ascended to Companion in 2015.

Egoyan is married to actress Arsinée Khanjian, whom he has often cast in his films.

Early life and education

Egoyan was born Atom Yeghoyan on July 19, 1960, in Cairo, in what was then the United Arab Republic, to Armenian-Egyptian painters Shushan () and Joseph Yeghoyan. He was named Atom to mark the completion of Egypt's first nuclear reactor. Egoyan has a younger sister, Eve.

In 1963, because of a rise in Arab nationalism, the family left Cairo and moved to Victoria, British Columbia, in Canada. They changed their last name to Egoyan.

As a teenager, Egoyan became interested in reading and writing plays. Influences included Samuel Beckett and Harold Pinter. He also attributes his future in the film industry to Ingmar Bergman's ''Persona'' (1966), which he viewed at age 14, according to an interview he had with journalist Robert K. Elder for '' The Film That Changed My Life'':

Egoyan graduated from Trinity College at the University of Toronto. It was at Trinity College that he came into contact with Harold Nahabedian, the Armenian-Canadian Anglican Chaplain of Trinity College. In interviews, Egoyan credited Nahabedian for introducing him to the language and history of his ethnic heritage. Egoyan wrote for the University of Toronto's independent weekly, '' The Newspaper'', during his time at the school.

Career

Egoyan began making films in the early 1980s; his debut film ''Next of Kin'' (1984) had a world premier at the International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg and won a major prize. The next year he directed the 1985 '' Twilight Zone'' episode "The Wall".

His commercial breakthrough came with his film ''Exotica'' (1994). He received the Grand Prix (Belgian Film Critics Association) in Brussels, the FIPRESCI Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and Best Motion Picture at the Canadian Screen Awards (then called the Genie Awards).

Egoyan's first attempt at adapted material resulted in his best-known work, the highly praised '' The Sweet Hereafter'' (1997). It earned him three prizes at the 50th Cannes Film Festival: the Grand Prix, the FIPRESCI Jury Prize, and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury. The film also earned Egoyan Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Beginning in 1996, Egoyan has directed several operas, including ''Salome'', ''Così fan tutte'', ''Jenůfa'', and '' The Ring Cycle'', at the Canadian Opera, Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, and elsewhere.

The film '' Ararat'' (2002) generated much publicity for Egoyan. After Henri Verneuil's French-language film '' Mayrig'' (1991), it was the first major motion picture to deal directly with the Armenian genocide. ''Ararat'' later won the award for Best Motion Picture at the Canadian Screen Awards, marking Egoyan's third win. The film was released in over 30 countries around the world.

In 2004, Egoyan opened Camera Bar, a 50-seat cinema-lounge on Queen Street West in Toronto. The bar closed in 2006.

Beginning in September 2006, Egoyan taught at the University of Toronto for three years. He joined the Faculty of Arts and Science as the Dean's Distinguished Visitor in theatre, film, music, and visual studies. He subsequently taught at Ryerson University. In 2006, he received the Master of Cinema Award of the International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg.

His film ''Adoration'' (2008) has been adapted into an opera by Mary Kouyoumdjian and librettist Royce Vavrek. It premiered in New York in 2024 and is set to be presented again by LA Opera in 2025.

In 2009, he directed the erotic thriller ''Chloe'', which was theatrically released by Sony Pictures Classics on March 26, 2010. This film grossed $3 million in limited theatrical release in the United States, which was generally considered respectable for an arthouse film release in the early 2010's. Several months after the DVD/Blu-ray release of ''Chloe'', Egoyan said that ''Chloe'' had made more money than any of his previous films. The success of ''Chloe'' led Egoyan to receive many scripts of erotic thrillers.

In 2012, he directed a production of Martin Crimp's ''Cruel and Tender''.

After the release of the West Memphis Three from 18 years in prison, Egoyan directed a movie about the case called '' Devil's Knot'' (2013) starring Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth, based on a book, '' Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three'' by Mara Leveritt. His next feature, '' The Captive'' (2014), starred Ryan Reynolds and screened in competition for the Palme d'Or at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, where it received largely negative reviews from critics. Justin Chang from '' Variety'' described the film as "a ludicrous abduction thriller that finds a once-great filmmaker slipping into previously un-entered realms of self-parody."

In 2015, Egoyan directed the thriller ''Remember'', which starred Christopher Plummer and premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, before being given a limited release in theatres. His 2019 drama '' Guest of Honour'', was nominated for a Golden Lion in competition in Venice in 2019, had a Special Presentation at the Toronto International Film Festival, and opening night galas in Vancouver and Montreal.
His latest film is '' Seven Veils (2023)''; the film was a Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) Official Selection with a special advance premiere at the Canadian Opera Company’s theatre, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.

He has also occasionally appeared in films as an actor, most notably in his own film ''Calendar'' and Jean Pierre Lefebvre's '' The Box of Sun (La boîte à soleil)''.

Personal life

Egoyan is based in Toronto, where he lives with his wife, actress Arsinée Khanjian, who appears in many of his films, and their son, Arshile (named after the Armenian-American painter Arshile Gorky).

In 1999, Egoyan was made an Officer of the Order of Canada; he was promoted in 2015 to Companion of the Order of Canada, the highest grade of the honour. In 2009, he won the 'Master of Cinema' award from the Mannheim Film Festival, 25 years after receiving his international festival premiere at the same event. In 2017, Egoyan was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Film Festival of India.

Filmography

Feature Films

Short Films

TV Films

Awards

Bibliography

* '' Dear Sandra'', Volumina (2007)

References

External links

Ego Film Arts
– official website

Atom Egoyan
– faculty page at European Graduate School (includes biography and video lectures)
*

Order of Canada citation

CTV.ca Filmmaker Egoyan set to teach at U. of Toronto

Discussion of Egoyan's film, Calendar by Ron Burnett


Literature on Atom Egoyan

{{DEFAULTSORT:Egoyan, Atom
1960 births
Living people
20th-century Canadian male writers
20th-century Canadian screenwriters
21st-century Canadian male writers
21st-century Canadian screenwriters
Best Director Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners
Best Screenplay Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners
Canadian expatriates in Switzerland
Canadian people of Armenian descent
Canadian theatre directors
Companions of the Order of Canada
Egyptian emigrants to Canada
Academic staff of European Graduate School
Film directors from Toronto
Film directors from Victoria, British Columbia
Film producers from British Columbia
Film producers from Ontario
French-language film directors
German-language film directors
Screenwriters from British Columbia
Screenwriters from Toronto
Trinity College (Canada) alumni
University of Toronto alumni
Film people from Cairo
Writers from Victoria, British Columbia
Producers of Best Picture Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners
Governor General's Award winners