Montreal: Atom Egoyan, director of the award-winning film The Sweet Hereafter, was honored with a two-fold tribute on Sept. 29, in the House of Commons and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, where Alliance Communications and Telefilm Canada held a special screening of the film for parliamentarians and dignitaries.

Atom Egoyan was the guest of the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Sheila Copps, at the House of Commons Monday afternoon Sept. 29. The Speaker of the House, the Honourable Gilbert Parent, officially welcomed the director.

Egoyan’s international success was commemorated by a short speech and standing ovation. The evening screening at the National Arts Center took place under the honorary chairmanship of the Right Honourable Prime Minister Jean Chretien and in the presence of Copps, numerous ministers, senators, ambassadors and other MPs.

‘Recognition at home is as important as international accolades. A standing ovation from our Prime Minister is as meaningful as the Grand Prix from the Festival international du film in Cannes,’ said Robert Lantos, chairman and CEO of Alliance and executive producer of The Sweet Hereafter. Produced by Alliance Communications and Ego Film Arts, the film won the Grand Prix award at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival and will be released by Alliance commercially November 21.