Biography for
Atom Egoyan More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

19 July 1960, Cairo, Egypt

Birth Name

Atom Yeghoyan

Height

5' 7" (1.70 m)

Mini Biography

Born in Egypt to Armenian parents, he was raised in Western Canada. Both his parents were painters, and he planned to be a playwright, but after making a short film, he became hooked on telling stories visually. Returned to ethnic " homeland" when he filmed Calendar (1993) in Armenia. Won attention at the Sundance Film Festival for earlier work, then broke through critically and commercially with _Sweet Hereafter, The (1997)_.

IMDb Mini Biography By: mwprods@mindspring.com

Mini Biography

Atom Egoyan's parents were painters and he studied International Relations and music at the University of Toronto where he began making short films: "Howard in Particular" 1979, "After Grad with Dad" 1980, "Peep Show" 1981 and "Open House" 1982.

While he has several distinguished Television and Opera works on his resume and such pictures as his debut "Next of Kin" 1984, Berlin and Moscow International Film Festival-winning "Family Viewing" 1987 and "The Adjuster" 1991 - his most critically acclaimed creation is The Sweet Hereafter (1997) and his most famous work is the astonishingly clever film-in-film Ararat (2002)

4 time Cannes Film Festival winner and the most famous Armenian filmmaker since Sergei Parajanov, the Egypt-born, Canada-bred, Oscar-nominated master of indie cinema, has collected an impressive 4 awards from the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival.

A 7 time recipient of Canada's top Genie Awards, he is one of the most remarkable figures of the contemporary independent filmmaking.

IMDb Mini Biography By: PARAJANOV.com

Spouse

Arsinée Khanjian

(19? - present) 1 child

Trade Mark

Frequently casts David Hemblen, Elias Koteas, and Gabrielle Rose.

Frequently incorporates televisions and video monitors into his films.

Frequently repeats voice-over sequences thoughout the course of a film.

Trivia

His wife Arsinée Khanjian appears in all his movies

Parents Joseph and Shushan(nee Devletian) painted, but also ran a furniture store.

Graduated University of Toronto, B.A. International Relations, 1982.

Plays classical guitar

He and his actress wife, Arsinée Khanjian, have a son, Arshile.

Created an Officer of the Order of Canada by Governor-General Roméo Leblanc. [Ottawa, Sept. 23, 1999]

One of his favorite movies is Sergei Parajanov's Sayat Nova (1968), his best friend Mikhail Vartanov's most favorite film.

Member of jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1996

Head of jury at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2003

Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival in 1995.

Personal Quotes

"I think with all directors there are ideas that recur, at least for the ones that have creative control of their films."

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