Celebrated Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan joins the MFA in Scriptwriting and Story Design program
It is with great enthusiasm that The Creative School Dean, Charles Falzon, announced the appointment of celebrated Canadian director-screenwriter-producer Atom Egoyan (external link, opens in new window) as the first Writer In Residence of the new Master of Fine Arts in Scriptwriting & Story Design (opens in new window) program.
Atom Egoyan. Photo credit: Tina Rowde
Story design is at the very core of my practice and The Creative School is an extraordinary laboratory for aspiring artists
Egoyan’s two-year appointment to the MFA program will see him mentor and teach screenwriting students, develop and participate in events for the University and community at large, and serve as an ambassador for the new program.
“I’ve enjoyed my teaching experiences at Ryerson and am excited to share the things I’ve learned both as a creator of original material and in adapting the work of other writers,” says Egoyan. “Story design is at the very core of my practice and The Creative School is an extraordinary laboratory for aspiring artists.”
An internationally acclaimed writer, director and producer of feature films, theatre, and television, Egoyan is known for numerous award-winning films including Exotica, Felicia’s Journey, Ararat, Where the Truth Lies, and The Captive. He has won multiple awards at film festivals including Cannes, Venice, Toronto, and Berlin, and received numerous nominations for his work including two Academy Award® nominations for The Sweet Hereafter.
“I am so pleased to have Atom Egoyan, one of the most celebrated contemporary filmmakers on the international scene, join the MFA program in Scriptwriting and Story Design program at The Creative School,” says Dean Charles Falzon. “His knowledge and experience will be an asset to all our students.”
Workshop ideas, captivate audiences and tell powerful stories
RTA School of Media Professor Michael Coutanche
The MFA in Scriptwriting & Story Design is a unique, two-year interdisciplinary graduate program that fosters and strengthens diversity of creative expression and voice, and immerses up and coming scriptwriters in the art of script-based writing for stage, screen, and cutting-edge media platforms. The MFA program integrates the knowledge, experiences, and talent offered by leading schools in the creative industries, including Image Arts, Performance and RTA Media and prepares students to write for the stage, screen and cutting-edge media platforms
“Atom’s passion for storytelling in film, television and on stage makes him the ideal Writer In Residence for our new interdisciplinary MFA program,” says Michael Coutanche (opens in new window) , Graduate Program Director for the MFA in Scriptwriting & Story Design. “He is a master storyteller with a unique creative vision focused on engaging stories that explore the human condition. His talent, enthusiasm, and mentorship skills will be a major influence on our up and coming writers in the MFA program. We’re excited to work with him.”
Coutanche’s area of expertise is in writing for television, film, radio and emerging digital platforms. His teaching and research focus is on the continuing evolution of storytelling forms and the dynamics of creative collaboration.
A Companion of the Order of Canada, Egoyan has taught previously at the University of Toronto and was a Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the School of Image Arts at Ryerson.
The Creative School at Ryerson University
The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.