Elmo Nüganen (born 15 February 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 from 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.
Personal life Nüganen is of Ingrian Finnish descent. He is married to actress Anne Reemann. They have three daughters, Saara, Maria-Netti, and Sonja.
Filmography +DirectorYearTitle (Estonian)Title (English)2002Nimed marmortahvlilNames in Marble2006MeeletuMindless201519442022Apteeker MelchiorMelchior the ApothecaryApteeker Melchior. ViirastusMelchior the Apothecary: The GhostApteeker Melchior. Timuka tütarMelchior the Apothecary: The Executioner's Daughter +ActorYearTitle (Estonian)Title (English)Role1990Ainus pühapäevThe Only SundayAleksAinult hulludele ehk halastajaõdeOnly For the Insane, or Sister of MercyRhine Militia1992Mälestus sinistes kildudes. Bernard KangroA Memory in Blue Fragments. Bernard KangroJoonatan1993SuflöörThe PrompterRobertMarraskuun harmaa valoThe Grey Light of November1994Armastus kolme apelsini vastuLove for Three Oranges1997Kapsapea 2 ehk Tagasi EuroopasseCabbage Head 2, or Back to EuropeVoice2002Nimed marmortahvlilNames in MarbleArmed Train Commander2012SeenelkäikMushroomingGas Station SalesmanPuhastusPurgeFatherDeemonidDemonsStranger2013MandariinidTangerinesMargus2017Lotte loodLotte's StoriesLotte's Grandfather2018PortugalThe Boss2020O2Major Kurg 2025Ühemõõtmeline mees One-Dimensional Man Investigator
External links Elmo Nüganen at the Estonian Movie Database