Ilmar Raag

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name = Ilmar Raag


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birthdate = 21 May 1968
birthplace = Kuressaare
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occupation = Film director
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awards = 2007 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival East of West Award - Special Mention, Label Europa Cinemas; Warsaw International Film Festival FIPRESCI Prize, Special Jury Award - Warsaw Competition

Ilmar Raag (born 21 May, 1968 at Kuressaare) is an Estonian media executive, screenwriter and film director, best known for his socio-critical film "The Class". He has served as CEO of Estonian National Television (Eesti Televisioon) from 2002 to 2005. He is well known columnist in many prestigious Estonian newspapers (Postimees, Eesti Päevaleht). In recent years he has written many scripts and directed critically acclaimed films, notably August 1991 and The Class.

Ilmar was born in Kuressaare (formerly called Kingissepa) on May 21st 1968. He received his high school education from Aleksander Mui secondary school No 2 of Kingissepa. He graduated from University of Tartu in 1997 and received his M.A. degree in screenwriting from Ohio University, 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). 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 s career, he quits the television and made his first feature film The Class in 2007.

Currently he is developing new projects with producer Riina Sildos from Amrion (Estonia).

Filmography

* 2008 I Was Here ( _et. Mina olin siin)
* 2007 The Class ( _et. Klass)
* 2005 TV drama August 1991, ETV
* 1998 Short feature Killing Tartu, amateur film