Ilmar Raag (born 21 May 1968 in

Kuressaare Kuressaare () is a populated places in Estonia, town on the island of Saaremaa in Estonia. It is the administrative centre of Saaremaa Municipality and the seat of Saare County. Kuressaare is the westernmost town in Estonia. The recorded popul ...

) is an Estonian media executive, actor, screenwriter and film director, best known for his socio-critical film '' The Class''. He was CEO of Estonian Television from 2002 to 2005. He is a well known

columnist A columnist is a person who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Column (periodical), Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs. They take the ...

in many prestigious Estonian newspapers (''

Postimees is an Estonian daily newspaper established on 5 June 1857, by Johann Voldemar Jannsen. In 1891, it became the first daily newspaper in Estonia. Its current editor-in-chief is Priit Hõbemägi. The paper has approximately 250 employees. ''P ...

'', '' Eesti Päevaleht''). He has written many scripts and directed critically acclaimed films, notably ''August 1991'' and ''The Class''.

Life

Raag was born in

on 21 May 1968. He received his high school education from Aleksander Mui ( :et) secondary school No 2 of Kingissepa. He graduated from

University of Tartu The University of Tartu (UT; ; ) is a public research university located in the city of Tartu, Estonia. It is the national university of Estonia. It is also the largest and oldest university in the country.

in 1997 and received his M.A. degree in screenwriting from

Ohio University Ohio University (Ohio or OU) is a Public university, public research university with its main campus in Athens, Ohio, United States. The university was first conceived in the 1787 contract between the United States Department of the Treasury#Re ...

, the School of Telecommunications (1999). He made internships in Hollywood development departments (New Regency, Phoenix Pictures). His further career took him to the TV management. After being the Head of Acquisitions for Estonian National Television, he was promoted to the Chairman of the Board of the same TV company. In 2002, he staged a play in one of the Estonian theaters (

Ugala Ugala is a theatre in Viljandi, Estonia. The theatre was founded in 1920 opening on January 10 of that year. The first production was Oscar Wilde's "Salome (play), Salome". Ugala's Artistic Directors *1925 - 1926: Andres Särev *1926 – 1928 ...

). At the same time, he started to consult and doctor Estonian feature scripts. In 2004, he wrote two TV feature scripts. He directed one of them - August 1991 as made-for-TV movie for Estonian Television and the other, ''One More Croissant'' got the third prize at Hartley Merill International Screenwriting Competition and the support from MEDIA New Talent program. Eager to continue his filmmaking career, he quit as CEO of Estonian Television and made his first feature film ''The Class'' in 2007. Since then he shot a feature in France '' Une Estonienne à Paris'' with

Jeanne Moreau Jeanne Moreau (; 23 January 1928 – 31 July 2017) was a French actress, singer, screenwriter, director, and socialite. She made her theatrical debut in 1947, and established herself as one of the leading actresses of the Comédie-Française. Mo ...

and Laine Mägi in leading roles, back in Estonia '' Kertu'' that was released in 2013 and in Russia '' I Won't Come Back'' After a pause, a children fantasy film ''Erik Stoneheart'' was released in 2022. Ilmar Raag has been active in Estonian public life as an opinion leader. He was recognised as the opinion leader of the year 20213 by the daily newspaper ''Postimees''. Ilmar Raag worked as adviser on strategic communication in the Estonian Government Office from 2015-2016 and promoted his understanding of the strategic communication as interagency action based form of communication. After the Russian full scale aggression against Ukraine in 2022, Ilmar Raag was actively supporting Ukraine. He was in the board of the Estonian NGO "Slava Ukraini" where he collaborated with the enquiery to investigate the allegations of the misuse of donated money. Ilmar Raag was also the founding member of the NGO "Saunas for Ukraine".

Filmography

Director

* 2022 ''Erik Kivisüda'' (aka ''Erik Stoneheart'') * 2014 '' I Won't Come Back'' * 2015–2017 ''Vaba mehed'' (television series) * 2013 ''Kertu'' (aka ''Love Is Blind'') * 2012 ''Une Estonienne à Paris'' (aka ''A Lady in Paris'') * 2007 '' Klass'' ('' The Class'') * 2005 ''August 1991'' (television film) * 1998 ''Tappev Tartu'' (''Killing Tartu'') (amateur film)

Writer

* 2013 ''Kertu'' * 2012 ''Une Estonienne à Paris'' * 2010 ''Klass: Elu pärast'' (television miniseries) * 2010 ''September'' (documentary) * 2008 '' Mina olin siin'' (''I Was Here'') * 2007 '' Klass'' (''The Class'') * 2005 ''Libahundi needus'' (television film) * 2005 ''August 1991'' (television film) * 1998 ''Tappev

Tartu Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 97,759 (as of 2024). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of Riga, Latvia. Tartu lies on the Emajõgi river, which connects the ...

'' (''Killing Tartu'') (amateur film)

Actor

* 2010 ''Klass: Elu pärast'' (television miniseries) * 2008 '' Tuulepealne maa'' (television series) * 2006 ''Tabamata ime'' * 2005 ''Kohtumine tundmatuga'' (television film) * 2004 ''Visions of Europe'' (segment "Estonia: Euroflot") * 1998 ''Tappev Tartu'' (''Killing Tartu'') (amateur film) * 1997 '' Minu Leninid'' (aka ''All My Lenins'')

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Raag, Ilmar 1968 births Living people Estonian film directors Estonian screenwriters Estonian male film actors People from Kuressaare Recipients of the Order of the White Star, 4th Class