Atom Egoyan Biography

Synopsis

Atom Egoyan is one of the celebrated stage director and filmmaker who has been demonstrating his direction skills in theater, music and art installations since 1984. He is best known for directing the Canadian drama “The Sweet Hereafter” (1997) and the American-Canadian-French erotic thriller “Chole” (2009).

Upbringing

Egoyan was conceived in Cairo, Egypt on July 19, 1960, to Armenian parents Shushan and Joseph Yegoyan. His parents were operating a furniture store before they moved to Canada when he was two. 

In Canada, they settled in Victoria and changed their last name to Egoyan. Atom was raised in Victoria along with his sister Eve, who is a concert pianist working in Toronto. Growing up in Canadian society, he began to be more inclined to western culture than Armenian culture.

Later,  he joined the University of Toronto, where he began to study about Armenian history. He graduated from the Trinity College at the University of Toronto, where he met Harold Nahabedian. Harold helped Atom to learn the Armenian language and history of his ethnic heritage.

Egoyan: A Skillful Director

Throughout his professional filmmaking career, he has given 15 full-lengths films, numerous TV series, and a few short films. 

With his exclusive direction skills, he has been able to maintain a distinct image in Hollywood. Having studied Armenian culture and being an Egyptian native, he has been able to give the picture and scenario of Egyptian culture through his film work. 

Some of his notable film works include Next of Kin (1984), Family Viewing (1987), Calendar (1993), Ararat (2002) and Remember (2015). Similarly, he has also shown his exceptional direction skills in TV films such as In This Corner (1985), Gross Misconduct (1993) and Krapp’s Last Tape (2000). Some his short film are Howard in Particular (1979), The Line (2000) and Festival du Nouveau Cinema (2014).

Awards and Honors

Being in the industry since 1984, Atom Egoyan has given numerous award-winning films. His films have won numerous accords in international film festivals.

 His super hit “The Sweet Hereafter” led him to two Academy Awards nominations: Best Directors and Best Adapted Screenplay. Similarly, he also bagged awards at Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, and Genie Awards. Egoyan was honored with the Canada’s highest royal honor given to the artists, Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, in 2015.tival. His super hit “The Sweet Hereafter” led him to two Academy Awards nominations: Best Directors and Best Adapted Screenplay.

 Similarly, he also bagged awards at Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, and Genie Awards. Egoyan was honored with the Canada’s highest royal honor given to the artists, Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards, in 2015.

Current Life

Egoyan is still working dedicatedly in the Canadian film industry. He is a married man and he currently resides in Toronto along with his wife Arsinee and sons. His wife is also an actress and has appeared in numerous Egyptian films. 

Currently, he serves as a member of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the Directors Guild of Canada and the Writers Guild of Canada. He is also associated with the Directors Guild of America and the Royal Canadian Academy of Art. His directing endeavors have been fruitful for the Canadian Film Industry.

• Atom Egoyan
• film director
• stage director