Atom Egoyan to host Q&A sessions for De Gaulle at Toronto’s Pomegranate Film Festival

Toronto festival to showcase 52 films from 17 countries, including Armenia’s Oscar submission and major international premieres

TORONTO — Acclaimed Canadian-Armenian filmmaker Atom Egoyan will host special question-and-answer sessions following the Toronto premieres of De Gaulle, a two-part French historical epic, as Hamazkayin Toronto’s 19th annual Pomegranate Film Festival returns November 9–15 with 52 films from 17 countries.

Directed by Antonin Baudry, De Gaulle stars French-Armenian actor Simon Abkarian as the legendary French wartime leader. The screenings bring together two prominent figures in international cinema whose artistic paths previously crossed in Egoyan’s acclaimed 2002 film Ararat, in which Abkarian portrayed Armenian-American painter Arshile Gorky.

The first instalment of De Gaulle, which premiered out of competition at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, will screen on Thursday, November 12, at 7:30 p.m. The second part will follow on Sunday, November 15, at 5 p.m. Egoyan will lead a Q&A following each screening.

Now in its 19th edition, the Pomegranate Film Festival continues to serve as an important platform for Armenian filmmakers and storytellers from around the world. This year’s programme features 26 North American premieres, 13 Canadian premieres and four Toronto premieres, spanning historical dramas, documentaries, animation and contemporary cinema.

Among the festival’s major highlights is In the Land of Arto, Armenia’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 2027 Academy Awards. Directed by Tamara Stepanyan and starring French actress Camille Cottin, the film, which opened the Locarno Film Festival, will screen on Friday, November 13.

The same evening will feature The Pomegranate Trees, a short film by Scarborough-born Armenian filmmaker Kamee Abrahamian, adapted from a story by celebrated Armenian-American writer William Saroyan. Abrahamian, a recipient of the 2025 Creative Capital Award, will personally introduce the screening.

Another anticipated presentation is the North American premiere of Ararat 73, a documentary revisiting a landmark chapter in Armenian football history, scheduled for November 15. The festival will also present Andy Serkis’s animated adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, while closing night will feature the North American premiere of A Spoonful of Love, followed by the Audience Choice Awards.

Founded in 2006 by a group of young Armenian professionals in Toronto, the Pomegranate Film Festival remains Canada’s only dedicated Armenian film festival. Over the past two decades, the volunteer-run initiative has provided a platform for stories reflecting Armenian history, identity, culture and contemporary experiences, while reaching audiences well beyond the Armenian community.

Reflecting on the festival’s mission, co-chair Araz Hasserjian drew a parallel between the worldwide Armenian Diaspora and the seeds of a pomegranate scattered following the Armenian Genocide.

“These films are a testament to our resilience: we are still here, and we continue to share our stories,” Hasserjian said.

The festival begins with worldwide virtual screenings from November 9–11, followed by in-person presentations from November 12–15 at the Hamazkayin Theatre, Armenian Youth Centre, located at 50 Hallcrown Place in Toronto.

The complete programme, tickets and festival passes are available at www.pomegranatefilmfestival.com.