PBS to Air Documentary Series about Estonia

The Estonian American National Council is proud to announce its sponsorship of the upcoming documentary series about Estonia to be broadcast on PBS (public television) and PEG (public, education and government) channels this October. Shown as the season premier, the four Estonian episodes will kick off the long-running world affairs series This is America & The World. In most places episodes will begin airing the first weekend in October, Oct 4-7. (Please check your local PBS, PEG stations and TV guides for local air times scheduling. see below.)

Filming took place in Estonia this August, and well-known program host Dennis Wholey commented that the trip went well, and that he found the culture fascinating. So fascinating, in fact, that he extended the Estonia series from three shows to four.

The series, which has previously featured destinations, such as Greece, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Japan among many others, will introduce Estonia to the American TV public through the lenses of culture, people, geography, tourism, business and innovation, and foreign affairs.
As they filmed and looked for interesting places to show their viewers, the producer and crew visited various locations in Estonia, interviewed numerous public figures, diplomats, artists and entrepreneurs and regular people on the street. An interview with the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, will lead the series.

Upon his return to the United States, Wholey reached out to EANC president Marju Rink-Abel and took some time to discuss the activities of Estonian Americans and Estonian organizations in the US. Wholey thanked the EANC for being the drive behind the project, and enabling its production by awarding a well-placed grant. “EANC’s mission includes introducing Estonia to the American public, as well as representing Estonian Americans and their interests in Washington. This entails getting the American public versed in Estonian and Estonian- American interests, culture, innovations and concerns,” explains EANC president Marju Rink-Abel.

• EANC encourages you to share information about the upcoming Estonia episodes of This is America & The World with friends, neighbors and your local schools. There is little reason to doubt that the viewers will be intrigued by this small and enchanting northern country, and want to learn more. Find This is America & The World in your TV listings and host a watch party in your neighborhood! Here is a link of some local PBS and PEG channels that will be broadcasting in local areas: https://www.thisisamerica.net/viewing.html. (CUNY typically airs shows a week later.) Please note: The show is not broadcast by all PBS stations. We will do our best to get you access to a link in those locations where it will not be aired.  In the meantime, you might be interested in host Dennis Wholey’s interview with Ambassador of Estonia to the United States, Jonatan Vseviov.  http://www.thisisamerica.net/videoarchive_2018-2019.html

A note of thanks for the support of the EANC President’s Circle and a special thank you for the particularly generous contributions toward this important project: Kristi and Aadu Allpere, Mai V. Hallingsby, Toomas Kukk, Toomas Niilus, Marju Rink-Abel and those donors wishing to remain anonymous.

If you would like to learn more about EANC, send an email to [email protected], or [email protected]. Donation in support of our work, can be made out and sent to EANC (ERKÜ), c/o Executive Director, 16 Pepperidge Rd, Monroe, CT 06468.