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Atom Egoyan Biography

Birth Name:
Atom Yeghoyan
Birth Place:
Cairo, Egypt
Profession
Director, writer, producer

Fast Facts

  • His parents gave him the name Atom in tribute to an Egyptian nuclear reactor that had recently been completed at the time of his birth
  • Graduated from college with a degree in International Relations, but became interested in film while making a short film his freshman year
  • Met his wife, Arsinée Khanjian, when she was cast in his first feature film, Next of Kin, in 1984
  • Became an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1999
  • Named his son, Arshile, after the Armenian artist Arshile Gorky

Awards

  • 2016David di Donatello Awards-Best Foreign Film: nominated
  • 2015Canadian Screen Awards-Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2015Canadian Screen Awards-Achievement in Direction: nominated
  • 2009Genie Awards-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 2008Vancouver Film Critics-Best Director of a Canadian Film: nominated
  • 2005Genie Awards-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 2002Genie Awards-Best Motion Picture: winner
  • 2002Genie Awards-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 1999Genie Awards-Best Achievement in Direction: nominated
  • 1999Genie Awards-Best Adapted Screenplay: winner
  • 1998Independent Spirit Awards-Best Foreign Film: winner
  • 1997Cannes Film Festival-Grand Prix: winner
  • 1997Cannes Film Festival-FIPRESCI Award: winner
  • 1997Genie Awards-Best Achievement in Direction: winner
  • 1997Toronto Film Critics Association-Best Director: winner
  • 1997Toronto International Film Festival-Award for Best Canadian Feature Film: winner
  • 1997Oscar-Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): nominated
  • 1997Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
  • 1997Genie Awards-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 1997Genie Awards-Best Motion Picture: winner
  • 1996Independent Spirit Awards-Best Foreign Film: nominated
  • 1994Genie Awards-Best Achievement in Direction: winner
  • 1994Genie Awards-Best Motion Picture: winner
  • 1994Cannes Film Festival-FIPRESCI Award for Best Film in Competition: winner
  • 1994Genie Awards-Best Original Screenplay: winner
  • 1994Toronto International Film Festival-Award for Best Canadian Feature Film: winner
  • 1993Genie Awards-Best Achievement in Direction: nominated
  • 1993Genie Awards-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 1991Toronto International Film Festival-Award for Best Canadian Feature Film: winner
  • 1991Genie Awards-Best Achievement in Direction: nominated
  • 1990Genie Awards-Best Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1990Genie Awards-Best Achievement in Direction: nominated
  • 1990Genie Awards-Best Original Screenplay: nominated
  • 1988Genie Awards-Best Screenplay: nominated
  • 1988Genie Awards-Best Achievement in Direction: nominated
  • 1988Genie Awards-Best Achievement in Film Editing: nominated
  • 1988Genie Awards-Best Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1987Toronto International Film Festival-Award for Best Canadian Feature Film: winner
  • 1985Genie Awards-Best Achievement in Direction: nominated

Relationships