Egoyan began making films in the early 1980s; his debut film "Next of Kin" (1984) world-premiered at the International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg and won a major prize. He directed the Twilight Zone episode 'The Wall' which was first released in 1985. His commercial breakthrough came with the film "Exotica" (1994). He received the Grand Prix (Belgian Film Critics Association) in Brussels, the FIPRESCI Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, and Best Motion Picture at the Canadian Screen Awards (then called the Genie Awards). However, it was Egoyan's first attempt at adapted material that resulted in his best-known work, "The Sweet Hereafter" (1997), which earned him three prizes at the 50th Cannes Film Festival—the Grand Prix, the FIPRESCI Jury Prize, and the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury. The film also earned Egoyan Academy Award nominations for Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. Film critic Roger Ebert gave The Sweet Hereafter and Exotica his highest great calling Egoyan “One of Canada's best and most respected directors”.