News & Events

Internationally renowned filmmaker Atom Egoyan has been appointed a Distinguished Scholar in Residence in Ryerson University's Faculty of Communication & Design (FCAD) for the 2011-12 academic year.

The multi award-winning writer, director and producer of film and theatre will act as a mentor to a group of Ryerson film students throughout the year. Selected students will have the opportunity to work with Egoyan on his North American premiere production of Martin Crimp's Cruel and Tender for the Canadian Stage theatre company. In addition, he will speak at the FCAD Dean's In-discussion series and participate in a public retrospective of his early films, hosted by Ryerson. 

"We are honoured to have Atom Egoyan join the Ryerson community this year," said Alan Shepard, provost and vice president academic. "Students in Ryerson's Faculty of Communication & Design will benefit tremendously from the opportunity to learn from an indisputable master of film, theatre and the performance arts. Atom Egoyan's appointment is an excellent example of how Ryerson's experiential learning mission greatly enriches academic programs and creates exciting opportunities for our students."

"Ryerson University has always been a place where students can explore and experience the joy of expression and creativity. Whether it's through theatre, design, journalism or the latest digital media and technology development, learning to express yourself through your work is a life skill," commented Egoyan. "I'm looking forward to sharing my career experiences with Ryerson students and faculty and to having some of the university's talented students contribute to my current projects."

Egoyan's dedication to showcasing Canadian talent in his work has greatly contributed to raising the profile and reputation of Canada's film industry internationally.

"Around the world, Atom Egoyan is known for his ground-breaking creativity, the personal expression and experience captured in his works, and the exceptional artistry of his films," said Gerd Hauck, dean of the Faculty of Communication & Design. "We are thrilled that he has chosen to come to Ryerson University."

Raised and educated in Canada, Egoyan's career as a director, writer and producer includes 14 feature films and related projects that have garnered international acclaim and awards, including five prizes at the Cannes Film Festival, two Academy Award(r) nominations, and eight Genie Awards. Egoyan won the 2010 Douglas Sirk Award from the Hamburg Film Festival, joining other career honours from festivals and events in Tokyo, Jerusalem, Reykjavik, Las Palmas, Hong Kong, Cairo and The Panorama of European Cinema in Athens. He has been the Jury President of prestigious international film festivals in Cannes, Berlin and Venice, as well as a jury member at several other festivals, including Sundance, Toronto, and this year's Tribeca Film Festival. In 1999, Egoyan was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada.