The ten-part Estonian series Pank (“The Bank”) has been sold to MHz Networks in the United States and will therefore air in North America, to be broadcast in Estonian with English subtitles. Terrestrial broadcaster MHz largely specialises in broadcasting international series and films, and is widely available throughout the USA and Canada.

Pank is the first Estonian TV project to have a season budget of over €1 million. It follows the rise and subsequent misfortunes of a young and hungry new bank called Nordbank, which emerges in Estonia in the 1990s, during the early cowboy capitalism of the newly liberated Eastern Europe.

“Watching Scandinavian noir on HBO is not on the rise any more,” says Lance Schwulst, of MHZ. “The new cool thing is to watch Estonian drama on MHz. I think Pank is a great addition to our selection; it has fantastic visuals, the characters draw you in, and as it is based on a true story, it’s compelling and exciting.” Producer Paul Aguraiuja adds: “I am happy to see that this universal story about the decisions made in the banking world during the 1990s is still influencing our lives today and has been picked up by such a highly respected channel as MHz Networks. It’s a great international start for Pank.”

The series has also been chosen to compete at the Geneva International Film Festival in the TV series category, where it will lock horns with heavy hitters such as Patrick Melrose, A Very English Scandal [+lire aussi :
critique
fiche série] and Castle Rock, amongst others.

Pank is produced by Itamambuca Films (Estonia) and distributed by Videoplugger (UK).