
Personal Info
Known For
Directing
Born
February 15, 1962 (age 64)
Place of Birth
Jõhvi, Kohtla-Järve District, Estonian SSR, USSR [now Ida-Viru County, Estonia]
Also Known As
ელმო ნუგანენი
Elmo Nüganen
Biography
Elmo Nüganen (born February 15, 1962 in Jõhvi) is an Estonian theatre director, film director, and actor.
He has been the artistic director of the Tallinn City Theatre since 1992. He was a graduate of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in 1988 and then a professor at the academy in 1998–2002 and 2008–2012. He directed the war films Names in Marble from 2002 and 1944 from 2015. Names in Marble was seen by more than 168,000 people in Estonia and was selected for the 2003 Taormina Film Fest, while 1944 had the highest opening-week audience numbers in Estonian film history and became the country's submission for the Academy Awards.
Nüganen has received multiple awards for his work in theatre, including the Estonian Annual Theatre Award for Best Director in 1992, 1995, 2000, 2007, and 2010, and the Estonian National Cultural Award in 1996, 1999, and 2009.
Known For

Film
Tangerines
Margus
2013

TV
Lotte's Stories
Lotte's Grandfather
2017

Film
Prompter
Robert
1993

Film
Purge
Father
2012

Film
One-Dimensional Man
Investigator
2025

Film
Sunday Only
1990

TV
Kalamaja Blues
Neighbor
2023

Film
Dawn of War
Major Kurg
2020

Film
Rebel with a Bow Tie
Self (uncredited)
2025

Film
Names in Marble
Armored Train Commander
2002

Film
Portugal
Boss
2018

Film
Love for Three Oranges
Pantalone
1994
Film
Serafima

Film
Mushrooming
Gas Station Attendant
2012

Film
Demons
Stranger
2012

Film
Marraskuun harmaa valo
Tõnu Valjus
1993

Film
Conversation
2022

Film
Father, Son and Holy Theatre
2010

Film
For Crazies Only
1991
Film
August välja
Himself
2014
Filmography
2025FilmOne-Dimensional Manas Investigator2025FilmRebel with a Bow Tieas Self (uncredited)2023TVKalamaja Bluesas Neighbor2022FilmConversation2020FilmDawn of Waras Major Kurg2018FilmPortugalas Boss2017TVLotte's Storiesas Lotte's Grandfather2014FilmAugust väljaas Himself2013FilmTangerinesas Margus2012FilmDemonsas Stranger2012FilmMushroomingas Gas Station Attendant2012FilmPurgeas Father2010FilmFather, Son and Holy Theatre2002FilmNames in Marbleas Armored Train Commander1994FilmLove for Three Orangesas Pantalone1993FilmMarraskuun harmaa valoas Tõnu Valjus1993FilmPrompteras Robert1991FilmFor Crazies Only1990FilmSunday Only—FilmSerafima