Ain Mäeots

Ain Mäeots, born on December 25, 1971, is a multifaceted Estonian actor, director, and producer known for his work in stage, film, and television. His acting career took off in 2000 with a brief role in Mare Raidma's short film "Lunastus," produced by Faama Film and Eesti Televisioon. He gained wider recognition in 2005 when he portrayed Lembitu in the comedy "Malev," directed by Kaaren Kaer, which offers a humorous take on Estonia's history set in 1208.

In 2007, Mäeots made a cameo in the comedy "Jan Uuspõld läheb Tartusse," directed by Rain Tolk and Andres Maimik, showcasing Jan Uuspõld's attempt to hitchhike across Estonia. The following year marked his directorial debut with "Taarka," a biography about Seto folk singer Hilana Taarka, based on Kauksi Ülle's play. Notably, "Taarka" became the first feature film in the Seto dialect and won the 2008 Estonian Cultural Endowment Debut Award.

Mäeots continued to make his mark in 2012 with "Deemonid," a drama exploring the struggles of individuals confronting their inner demons in a casino setting. He appeared as Erik in the 2013 historical melodrama "Elavad pildid," directed by Hardi Volmer, and in 2015, he played Captain Evald Viires in the war film "1944," which represents the complexities faced by Estonian soldiers during World War II. His more recent work includes portraying Joosep in the fantasy-horror film "Kõhedad muinaslood" in 2019.