Andres Puustusmaa (born 19 July 1971) is an Estonian film director, actor, screenwriter, professor, and photographer who began his career in the early 1990s. He has worked extensively in his native Estonia, as well as in Russia.

Early life and education

Andres Puususmaa was born in Tallinn to Tõnu and Eva Puustusmaa (''née'' Mildeberg). After secondary school he enrolled in the Drama Department of Tallinn Conservatory (now, the

Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre The Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (''Eesti Muusika- ja Teatriakadeemia'') began as a mixed choir of the Estonia Society Musical Department (EMD) on the eve of World War I. The assembly of the Estonia Society created the Tallinn Higher Musi ...

) under the instruction of theatre pedagogue Ingo Normet, graduating in 1994. Following his graduation from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre he joined the

Estonian Drama Theatre The Estonian Drama Theatre ( et, Eesti Draamateater) is a theatre in Tallinn, Estonia. It has the role of a national theatre for Estonia. The Estonia Theatre is located next door. History The building that houses the Estonian Drama Theatre was or ...

in Tallinn, where he performed as a stage actor until 2002 when he relocated to Russia to study

High Courses for Scriptwriters and Film Directors 200px The High Courses for Scriptwriters and Film Directors (HCFDS) (russian: Высшие курсы сценаристов и режиссёров (ВКСР)) comprises a variety of optional post-graduate film school courses in Moscow, Russia. ...

at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography in Moscow until 2004.

Career

Actor

As well as performing onstage at the Estonian Drama Theatre, Puustusmaa has appeared as an actor on television and in film. One of his first television appearances was a small role was in the 1993 Maximilian Schell-directed American

made for television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

drama '' Candles in the Dark'', which was filmed on location in Tallinn. In 2001, he appeared on the popular, long-running

Eesti Televisioon Eesti Televisioon (ETV) ( en, Estonian Television) is an Estonian free-to-air television channel owned and operated by Estonian Public Broadcasting. It made its first broadcast on 19 July 1955. History Eesti Televisioon (''Estonian Televis ...

drama series ''

Õnne 13 Õnne 13 is an Estonian dramatic TV series that airs on ETV ETV may stand for: Television * e.tv, a South African terrestrial television channel * Educational Television (Hong Kong), a television series * Educational television, the use of ...

''. Puustusmaa's first film role was a small part in the 1997

Hardi Volmer Hardi Volmer (born 8 November 1957 in Pärnu) is an Estonian film director, puppet theatre set decorator and musician. Volmer is the singer in the Estonian punk rock band Singer Vinger. Animated cartoons *"Imeline nääriöö" (Wonderful Ne ...

-directed historical comedy '' Minu Leninid''. This was followed by roles in the 1999 Valentin Kuik-directed drama ''Lurjus'', the 2009

Veiko Õunpuu Veiko Õunpuu (born 16 March 1972, in Saaremaa) is an Estonian film director and screenwriter who is best known for his artistic movies '' Autumn Ball'' (''Sügisball'', 2007) and ''The Temptation of St. Tony'' (''Püha Tõnu kiusamine'', 2009). ...

-directed drama ''

Püha Tõnu kiusamine ''The Temptation of St. Tony'' ( et, Püha Tõnu kiusamine) is a 2009 Estonian film written and directed by Veiko Õunpuu, starring Taavi Eelmaa. The plot has been described as a black comedy and centers around a successful, middle aged man who be ...

'', and the 2016 Anton Bilzho-directed Russian comedy ''Dreamfish'', among others. He has also appeared in small roles in films that he has directed, such as 2011's crime drama ''Rotilõks'' and the 2017 drama ''Rohelised kassid''.

Director

After graduation from the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography, Puustusmaa worked as a film director in Russia for

Mosfilm Mosfilm (russian: Мосфильм, ''Mosfil’m'' ) is a film studio which is among the largest and oldest in the Russian Federation and in Europe. Founded in 1924 in the USSR as a production unit of that nation's film monopoly, its output inclu ...

and Lenfilm. Some Russian-language features directed by Puustusmaa include: ''1814'' (2007), ''Krasnyy zhemchug lyubvi'' (2008), ''Volshebnik'' (2008), ''My iz budushchego 2'' (2010), and ''Belyy pesok'' (2010). Following his return to Estonia, he has continued to direct shorts and features, including: ''Rotilõks'' (2011), ''Rohelised kassid'' (2017), and ''Kohtunik'' (2018).

Educator

Since 2004, Andres Puustusmaa has been a lecturer in film and telecommunication at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and from 2015, a professor at the institution.

Personal life

Andres Puustusmaa was previously married to actress Natalja Murina from 2001 until their divorce in 2011. The couple have a son, Aleksander. Puustusmaa currently resides in Tallinn and is in a relationship with theater executive Kristiina Oomer. The couple have one child.Kroonika
''Puustusmaa uue saatjaga''. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2018.

Filmography

Actor

*''Rohelised kassid'' - Politician (2017, feature film) *''Dreamfish'' - Kairo (2016, Russian feature film) *''Vahetus'' - Heiki (2011, film short) *''Rotilõks'' - Real estate agent (2011, feature film) *''

The Temptation of St. Tony ''The Temptation of St. Tony'' ( et, Püha Tõnu kiusamine) is a 2009 Estonian film written and directed by Veiko Õunpuu, starring Taavi Eelmaa. The plot has been described as a black comedy and centers around a successful, middle aged man who b ...

'' - Fence builder (2009, feature film) *''1814'' (2007, Russian feature film) *''Ferdinand'' (2002, film short) *''

'' - Töömees (2001, TV series) *''Lurjus'' - Berg (1999, feature film) *''Kõrbekuu'' - Hans Kaufmann (1999, film short) *'' Minu Leninid'' (1997, feature film) *'' Candles in the Dark'' (1993, American TV film)

Director

*''Kohtunik'' (2019, Estonian) *''Libertas'' (2018, Estonian) *''Rohelised kassid'' (2017, Estonian) *''Wandering Roots'' (2017, Estonian short) *''Caché'' (2017, Estonian short) *''Varshava'' (2016, Russian) *''Mustad lesed'' (2015, Estonian TV series) *''Chuzhaya zhizn'' (2014, Russian TV series) *''Rotilõks'' (2011, Estonian) *''Belyy pesok'' (2010, Russian) *''Punane elavhõbe'' (2010, Estonian) *''My iz budushchego 2'' (2010, Russian) *''Volshebnik'' (2008, Russian) *''Krasnyy zhemchug lyubvi'' (2008, Russian) *''1814'' (2007, Russian) *''Febris'' (1997, Estonian short) *''Süü'' (1997, Estonian short)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Puustusmaa, Andres 1971 births Living people People from Tallinn Male actors from Tallinn Estonian film directors Estonian screenwriters Estonian male film actors Estonian male stage actors Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre faculty 20th-century Estonian male actors 21st-century Estonian male actors