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ATOM EGOYAN RECEIVES CHLOTRUDIS HALL OF FAME AWARD
By Nancy Kalajian
Special to the Mirror-Spectator
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2012/03/22/atom-egoyan-receives-chlotrudis-hall-of-fame-award/
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - On Sunday, March 18, the Chlotrudis Society for
Independent Film honored director Atom Egoyan during its 18th Annual
Chlotrudis Awards Ceremony at the historic Brattle Theatre in Harvard
Square. Egoyan was honored with a special Chlotrudis Hall of Fame Award
for his achievements as a filmmaker and was accompanied by his wife,
actress Arsinee Khanjian.
The Chlotrudis Society is a Boston- based non-profit group that teaches
people to view film actively, experience the world through independent
film and engage in discussion. The group works with film festivals,
local art-houses and theatres, production companies, directors and
actors to bring creative, quality films to the attention of audiences
and film- love
"The award is the Chlotrudis Award, but we call it a Trudy for short,"
said Michael Colford, president of the society. The award was named
in honor of two cats: Chloe and Gertrudis. "Chloe passed away some
years ago, but Gertrudis, who was a kitten when we started, is 18
years old and going strong."
Colford and Ivy Moylan, clerk, the affable co- hosts from the
Chlotrudis Society, did a smashing job in keeping up the momentum
of the award program and explained that art-house theatres were the
theme for this year's ceremony. Reminiscent of the Academy Awards,
albeit with a fun, local twist, the late Sunday afternoon program
lasted more than two hours and included amusing musical numbers, film
tributes and short film clips. Of particular note, was the splendid
vocals and spirit of Andrew Cincotta who received huge applause for
his singing of a piece related to a nominated film.
Interspersed throughout the program was the awarding of Trudy awards
given in numerous categories including Best Actress (to Tracy Wright
for "Trigger"), Best Actor (Michael Shannon for "Take Shelter") and
Best Movie ("The Artist"). Membership votes determine the winners of
each year's awards.
In acknowledging the talents of honoree Egoyan, the program booklet
stated, "Atom Egoyan has been exploring the hows and whys of truth,
identity, memory, fidelity and loss, through the medium of film for
over three decades. After garnering several Chlotrudis nominations,
including a Best Movie and Best Director nod for 'The Sweet Hereafter"'
in 1998, Atom was honored with a special directing award by the
society. Often heralded for his unique visual style, his later films,
'Where the Truth Lies' and 'Chloe,' have received Chlotrudis nods
for Best Visual Design and Best Cinematography respectively.
Atom's films tackle difficult subjects, and 'Ararat,' one his most
epic films, showed up on several Chlotrudis members' top films of
the year lists for 2002."
In presenting the award and introducing Egoyan as a favorite filmmaker,
Colford discussed the filmmaker's achievements, creative filmmaking
and themes of heritage, family and storytelling experienced in his
films. "Ararat" is "both epic and intimate at the same time," and
"Chloe" had "astonishing visual style," he declared. A short clip from
"The Sweet Hereafter" was viewed and shortly after an excited Egoyan
jumped onto the stage to receive his Trudy award. In accepting his
award, a bubbling Egoyan said, "this award feels true..." He also
expressed appreciation to the tribute made to Canadian filmmakers
and their creative community.
Changes in technology for filmmaking, including financial costs,
have evolved over the years, and he said, "You can (now) make a
beautiful work for nothing." He praised the Chlotrudis Society, "You
have an incredible job...to discern and select films" among so many
films made nowadays. After holding his Trudy award high in the air,
he sweetly tapped another Trudy Award placed on the podium to announce,
"It'll be beside Arsinee's," back home in Toronto.
In 2002, Khanjian was awarded a special Chlotrudis award for her
"fascinating career" and with this Cambridge appearance, she is
the first Chlotrudis honoree to make a return visit. Khanjian has
appeared in dozens of film and television appearances, beginning
with Egoyan's first film, "Next of Kin" and notably as Ani in
"Ararat." During the ceremony, Khanjian presented the Cat's Meow Award
to the Independent Film Festival of Boston; it was accepted by Adam
Roffman, Nancy Campbell and Brian Tamm. Khanjian said this festival
"rose like Athena" and noted the long line that reaches through Seven
Hills Park as guests wait to enter the Somerville Theatre.
After the program, admirers, including some Armenians, gathered around
to offer congratulations. "You are lucky to live here," Egoyan shared,
and noted that he wants to come back to visit the Armenian Library
and Museum of America (ALMA) and Project SAVE Armenian Photograph
Archives in Watertown.
A series of Egoyan films were presented over the March 16-18 weekend
at the Brattle Theatre. Both Egoyan and actress Khanjian appeared in
person at screenings of "Adoration" for a question-and-answer program
after the film on Saturday night, as well as an introduction for
"Calendar" in high definition on Sunday evening, after the awards
ceremony.
"You are looking at a Blue Ray high-defini- tion version," he shared
with the Cambridge audience. Indeed, the ancient churches and col-
orful characters popped off the screen.
Of their collaboration on "Calendar," Egoyan said, "It was a wonderful
and special event for the two of us...to go back to our ancestral
homeland. It was a very personal film." He spoke of the barren land,
the terrible economic crisis including no electricity that they found
during filming there in 1992.
Khanjian, co-producer of "Calendar," spoke of a prize of one million
rubles from Moscow that they won about 20 years ago "to shoot a film
in any of the Soviet Republics." It turned out to be worth about $500,
hardly enough, but with an award of $80,000 from ZDF (a German source)
they were able to make "Calendar."
By Nancy Kalajian
Special to the Mirror-Spectator
http://www.mirrorspectator.com/2012/03/22/atom-egoyan-receives-chlotrudis-hall-of-fame-award/
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - On Sunday, March 18, the Chlotrudis Society for
Independent Film honored director Atom Egoyan during its 18th Annual
Chlotrudis Awards Ceremony at the historic Brattle Theatre in Harvard
Square. Egoyan was honored with a special Chlotrudis Hall of Fame Award
for his achievements as a filmmaker and was accompanied by his wife,
actress Arsinee Khanjian.
The Chlotrudis Society is a Boston- based non-profit group that teaches
people to view film actively, experience the world through independent
film and engage in discussion. The group works with film festivals,
local art-houses and theatres, production companies, directors and
actors to bring creative, quality films to the attention of audiences
and film- love
"The award is the Chlotrudis Award, but we call it a Trudy for short,"
said Michael Colford, president of the society. The award was named
in honor of two cats: Chloe and Gertrudis. "Chloe passed away some
years ago, but Gertrudis, who was a kitten when we started, is 18
years old and going strong."
Colford and Ivy Moylan, clerk, the affable co- hosts from the
Chlotrudis Society, did a smashing job in keeping up the momentum
of the award program and explained that art-house theatres were the
theme for this year's ceremony. Reminiscent of the Academy Awards,
albeit with a fun, local twist, the late Sunday afternoon program
lasted more than two hours and included amusing musical numbers, film
tributes and short film clips. Of particular note, was the splendid
vocals and spirit of Andrew Cincotta who received huge applause for
his singing of a piece related to a nominated film.
Interspersed throughout the program was the awarding of Trudy awards
given in numerous categories including Best Actress (to Tracy Wright
for "Trigger"), Best Actor (Michael Shannon for "Take Shelter") and
Best Movie ("The Artist"). Membership votes determine the winners of
each year's awards.
In acknowledging the talents of honoree Egoyan, the program booklet
stated, "Atom Egoyan has been exploring the hows and whys of truth,
identity, memory, fidelity and loss, through the medium of film for
over three decades. After garnering several Chlotrudis nominations,
including a Best Movie and Best Director nod for 'The Sweet Hereafter"'
in 1998, Atom was honored with a special directing award by the
society. Often heralded for his unique visual style, his later films,
'Where the Truth Lies' and 'Chloe,' have received Chlotrudis nods
for Best Visual Design and Best Cinematography respectively.
Atom's films tackle difficult subjects, and 'Ararat,' one his most
epic films, showed up on several Chlotrudis members' top films of
the year lists for 2002."
In presenting the award and introducing Egoyan as a favorite filmmaker,
Colford discussed the filmmaker's achievements, creative filmmaking
and themes of heritage, family and storytelling experienced in his
films. "Ararat" is "both epic and intimate at the same time," and
"Chloe" had "astonishing visual style," he declared. A short clip from
"The Sweet Hereafter" was viewed and shortly after an excited Egoyan
jumped onto the stage to receive his Trudy award. In accepting his
award, a bubbling Egoyan said, "this award feels true..." He also
expressed appreciation to the tribute made to Canadian filmmakers
and their creative community.
Changes in technology for filmmaking, including financial costs,
have evolved over the years, and he said, "You can (now) make a
beautiful work for nothing." He praised the Chlotrudis Society, "You
have an incredible job...to discern and select films" among so many
films made nowadays. After holding his Trudy award high in the air,
he sweetly tapped another Trudy Award placed on the podium to announce,
"It'll be beside Arsinee's," back home in Toronto.
In 2002, Khanjian was awarded a special Chlotrudis award for her
"fascinating career" and with this Cambridge appearance, she is
the first Chlotrudis honoree to make a return visit. Khanjian has
appeared in dozens of film and television appearances, beginning
with Egoyan's first film, "Next of Kin" and notably as Ani in
"Ararat." During the ceremony, Khanjian presented the Cat's Meow Award
to the Independent Film Festival of Boston; it was accepted by Adam
Roffman, Nancy Campbell and Brian Tamm. Khanjian said this festival
"rose like Athena" and noted the long line that reaches through Seven
Hills Park as guests wait to enter the Somerville Theatre.
After the program, admirers, including some Armenians, gathered around
to offer congratulations. "You are lucky to live here," Egoyan shared,
and noted that he wants to come back to visit the Armenian Library
and Museum of America (ALMA) and Project SAVE Armenian Photograph
Archives in Watertown.
A series of Egoyan films were presented over the March 16-18 weekend
at the Brattle Theatre. Both Egoyan and actress Khanjian appeared in
person at screenings of "Adoration" for a question-and-answer program
after the film on Saturday night, as well as an introduction for
"Calendar" in high definition on Sunday evening, after the awards
ceremony.
"You are looking at a Blue Ray high-defini- tion version," he shared
with the Cambridge audience. Indeed, the ancient churches and col-
orful characters popped off the screen.
Of their collaboration on "Calendar," Egoyan said, "It was a wonderful
and special event for the two of us...to go back to our ancestral
homeland. It was a very personal film." He spoke of the barren land,
the terrible economic crisis including no electricity that they found
during filming there in 1992.
Khanjian, co-producer of "Calendar," spoke of a prize of one million
rubles from Moscow that they won about 20 years ago "to shoot a film
in any of the Soviet Republics." It turned out to be worth about $500,
hardly enough, but with an award of $80,000 from ZDF (a German source)
they were able to make "Calendar."