Atom Egoyan | |
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.jpg) Egoyan in 2016 | |
| Born | Atom Yeghoyan (1960-07-19)July 19, 1960 (age 65) |
| Citizenship |
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| Alma mater | Trinity College, Toronto |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1984–present |
| Spouse | Arsinée Khanjian |
| Children | 1 |
| Website | www |
Atom EgoyanCC (/ɛˈɡɔɪən/;[2]Armenian:Ատոմ Եղոյեան,romanized: Atom Yeghoyan; born July 19, 1960) is anArmenian-Canadian[3] filmmaker.[4][5] One of the most preeminent directors of theToronto New Wave,[3] he emerged during the 1980s and made his career breakthrough withExotica (1994), ahyperlink film set in astrip club.[6] He followed this with his most critically acclaimed film,The Sweet Hereafter (1997), an adaptation of theRussell Banksnovel of the same name, for which he receivedAcademy Award nominations forBest Director andBest Adapted Screenplay.
Egoyan's other significant films includeThe Adjuster (1991),Ararat (2002),Where the Truth Lies (2005),Adoration (2008),Chloe (2009),Devil's Knot (2013), andRemember (2015). His works often explore themes ofalienation andisolation, featuring characters whose interactions are mediated through technology, bureaucracy, or other power structures. His films often follownon-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.[4] Many of his films also draw on his experiences as afirst-generation immigrant,[3][7] and as a member of theArmenian diaspora.[8]
In addition to his Oscar nods, Egoyan has won eightGenie/Canadian Screen Awards, out of 25 total nominations. He received the 2008Dan David Prize for "Creative Rendering of the Past"[9] and the 2015Governor General's Performing Arts Award.[10] He has been a member of theOrder of Canada since 1999, and was ascended to Companion in 2015.[11]
Egoyan is married to actressArsinée Khanjian, whom he has often cast in his films.
Egoyan was born Atom Yeghoyan on July 19, 1960,[12][13] inCairo, in what was then theUnited Arab Republic, toArmenian-Egyptian[14][15] painters[16][17] Shushan (née Devletian) and Joseph Yeghoyan.[18] He was named Atom to mark the completion ofEgypt's first nuclear reactor.[14][19][20] Egoyan has a younger sister,Eve.[21]
In 1963, because of a rise in Arab nationalism, the family left Cairo and moved toVictoria, British Columbia, in Canada.[15][16][17][22][23][14] They changed their last name to Egoyan.
As a teenager, Egoyan became interested in reading and writing plays. Influences includedSamuel Beckett andHarold Pinter. He also attributes his future in the film industry toIngmar Bergman'sPersona (1966), which he viewed at age 14, according to an interview he had with journalistRobert K. Elder forThe Film That Changed My Life:
It gave me an incredible respect for the medium and its possibilities. To me,Persona marries a pure form and a very profound vision with absolute conviction. It's very inspiring. I felt that it was able to open a door that wasn't there before.[24]
Egoyan graduated fromTrinity College at theUniversity 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.[25]
Egoyan began making films in the early 1980s; his debut filmNext of Kin (1984) had a world premier at theInternational Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg and won a major prize. The next year he directed the 1985Twilight Zone episode "The Wall".
His commercial breakthrough came with his filmExotica (1994). He received theGrand Prix (Belgian Film Critics Association) in Brussels, theFIPRESCI Jury Prize at theCannes Film Festival, andBest Motion Picture at theCanadian Screen Awards (then called theGenie Awards).
Egoyan's first attempt at adapted material resulted in his best-known work, the highly praisedThe Sweet Hereafter (1997). It earned him three prizes at the50th Cannes Film Festival: theGrand Prix, the FIPRESCI Jury Prize, and thePrize of the Ecumenical Jury. The film also earned EgoyanAcademy Award nominations forBest Director andBest Adapted Screenplay.
Beginning in 1996, Egoyan has directed several operas, includingSalome,Così fan tutte,Jenůfa, andThe Ring Cycle, at the Canadian Opera, Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, and elsewhere.[26][27]
The filmArarat (2002) generated much publicity for Egoyan. AfterHenri Verneuil's French-language filmMayrig (1991), it was the first major motion picture to deal directly with theArmenian genocide.Ararat later won the award forBest Motion Picture at the Canadian Screen Awards, marking Egoyan's third win.[28] The film was released in over 30 countries around the world.
In 2004, Egoyan opened Camera Bar, a 50-seat cinema-lounge onQueen Street West in Toronto.[29] The bar closed in 2006.[30]
Beginning in September 2006, Egoyan taught at theUniversity of Toronto for three years.[31] He joined the Faculty of Arts and Science as the Dean's Distinguished Visitor in theatre, film, music, and visual studies. He subsequently taught atRyerson University.[32] In 2006, he received the Master of Cinema Award of theInternational Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg.
His filmAdoration (2008) has been adapted into an opera byMary Kouyoumdjian and librettistRoyce Vavrek. It premiered in New York in 2024 and is set to be presented again byLA Opera in 2025.[33]
In 2009, he directed the erotic thrillerChloe, which was theatrically released bySony Pictures Classics on March 26, 2010. This film grossed $3 million inlimited theatrical release in the United States,[34] which was generally considered respectable for anarthouse film release in the early 2010's.[35][36][37] Several months after the DVD/Blu-ray release ofChloe, Egoyan said thatChloe had made more money than any of his previous films.[38][39] The success ofChloe led Egoyan to receive many scripts of erotic thrillers.[40]
In 2012, he directed a production ofMartin Crimp'sCruel and Tender,[41] after winning the Irish Times/ESB Award for Best Director for his production of Samuel Beckett’s Eh Joe, starring Michael Gambon and Penelope Wilton in Dublin. In 2025, he directed his original play Donation for theMaxim Gorki Theater in Berlin and his production of Jenůfa forOpéra de Montréal at La Place des Arts.[42]
After the release of theWest Memphis Three from 18 years in prison, Egoyan directed a movie about the case calledDevil's Knot (2013) starringReese Witherspoon andColin Firth, based on a book,Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three byMara Leveritt. His next feature,The Captive (2014), starredRyan Reynolds and screened in competition for thePalme d'Or at the2014 Cannes Film Festival,[43] where it received largely negative reviews from critics.[44] Justin Chang fromVariety described the film as "a ludicrous abduction thriller that finds a once-great filmmaker slipping into previously un-entered realms of self-parody."[45]
In 2015, Egoyan directed the thrillerRemember, which starredChristopher Plummer and premiered at theToronto International Film Festival in September, before being given a limited release in theatres.[46] His 2019 dramaGuest 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 isSeven 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, theFour Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.[47]
He has also occasionally appeared in films as an actor, most notably in his own filmCalendar andJean Pierre Lefebvre'sThe Box of Sun (La boîte à soleil).
Egoyan is based in Toronto, where he lives with his wife, actressArsinée Khanjian, who appears in many of his films, and their son, Arshile (named after theArmenian-American painterArshile Gorky).
In 1999, Egoyan was made an Officer of theOrder of Canada; he was promoted in 2015 to Companion of the Order of Canada, the highest grade of the honour.[48] 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.
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Next of Kin | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1987 | Family Viewing | Yes | Yes | Uncredited |
| 1989 | Speaking Parts | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1991 | The Adjuster | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1993 | Calendar | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1994 | Exotica | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1997 | The Sweet Hereafter | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1999 | Felicia's Journey | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2002 | Ararat | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2005 | Where the Truth Lies | Yes | Yes | Executive |
| 2006 | Citadel | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2008 | Adoration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2009 | Chloe | Yes | No | No |
| 2013 | Devil's Knot | Yes | No | No |
| 2014 | The Captive | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2015 | Remember | Yes | No | No |
| 2019 | Guest of Honour | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2023 | Seven Veils | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Curtis's Charm | |
| 1998 | Jack and Jill | |
| 2002 | Gambling, Gods and LSD | Documentary film |
| 2003 | The Saddest Music in the World | |
| Foolproof | ||
| 2005 | Sabah | |
| Mouth to Mouth | ||
| 2006 | Away from Her | |
| 2025 | While the Green Grass Grows: A Diary in Seven Parts | Documentary film |
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Howard in Particular | Yes | Yes | |
| 1980 | After Grad with Dad | Yes | Yes | |
| 1981 | Peep Show | Yes | Yes | |
| 1982 | Open House | Yes | Yes | |
| 1985 | Men: A Passion Playground | Yes | No | |
| 1991 | En passant (In Passing) | Yes | Yes | Segment ofMontreal Stories |
| 1995 | A Portrait of Arshile | Yes | Yes | |
| 2000 | The Line | Yes | Yes | Segment ofPreludes |
| 2001 | Diaspora | Yes | No | |
| 2007 | Artaud Double Bill | Yes | Yes | SegmentTo Each His Own Cinema |
| 2013 | Butterfly | Yes | No | Segment ofVenezia 70 Future Reload |
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | In This Corner | Yes | No | No |
| 1993 | Gross Misconduct | Yes | No | No |
| 1997 | Sarabande | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 1988 | Looking for Nothing | Yes | Yes | No |
| 2000 | Krapp's Last Tape | Yes | No | No |
| Year | Title | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Next of Kin | Won prizes atInternational Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg; nominated for Best DirectionGenie Award |
| 1987 | Family Viewing | Won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury atLocarno International Film Festival (1988) |
| 1989 | Speaking Parts | Best Motion Picture nomination, including five others, at the 1989 Genie Awards |
| 1991 | The Adjuster | Won the Special Silver St. George at the17th Moscow International Film Festival,[49] Best Canadian Film and Best Ontario Picture at Cinefest Sudbury (1991) |
| 1993 | Calendar | Won the Special Jury Prize atTaormina International Film Festival (1993) |
| 1994 | Exotica | Won theFIPRESCI Prize at the1994 Cannes Film Festival[50] |
| 1997 | The Sweet Hereafter | Won Grand Prize of the Jury, FIPRESCI Jury and Ecumenical Jury Prizes at the1997 Cannes Film Festival[51] |
| 1999 | Felicia's Journey | Won the Best Adapted Screenplay at Genie Awards (2000) |
| 2002 | Ararat | Won Best Motion Picture at the 2003 Genie Awards; also won Genies for costume design and original score; in addition, Arsinée Khanjian won the best actress award and Elias Koteas best supporting actor at the 2003 Genie Awards; also won the Writers Guild of Canada award in 2003 |
| 2005 | Where the Truth Lies | Won the Best Adapted Screenplay at Genie Awards (2006) |
| 2008 | Adoration | Won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the2008 Cannes Film Festival, Best Canadian Feature Film – Special Jury Citation atToronto International Film Festival (2008) |
| 2009 | Chloe | Nominated for the DGC Craft Award at theDirectors Guild of Canada (2010) |
| 2013 | Devil's Knot | Nominated for the Best Film Golden Seashell Award atSan Sebastián International Film Festival (2013) |
| 2014 | The Captive | Palme d'Or nomination at the2014 Cannes Film Festival |
| 2015 | Remember | Won the Vittorio Veneto Film Festival Award –Venice Film Festival (2015) |
| 2019 | Guest of Honour | Nominated for theGolden Lion (Leone d'Oro) at theVenice Film Festival, opening nights at theVancouver International Film Festival and theFestival du nouveau cinéma |
| 2023 | Seven Veils | Avant Première,Toronto International Film Festival (2023); Special Gala,Berlin International Film Festival (2024); Opening Night Film,Yerevan International Film Festival (2024); Opening Night & Best Canadian Film,Victoria Film Festival (2024); Opening Night Film,International Film Festival of Ottawa (2024); Nominated for Adapted Screenplay and Achievement in Direction,Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (2024). |
Filmmaker Atom Egoyan in 1960 (age 59)
Atom Egoyan's name was a symbolic choice by his parents, named after the new nuclear reactor in Egypt.
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