Norway competes for the first time ever in the Best Drama category at the prestigious international Emmy awards.

The Norwegian thriller co-created by NRK producer Vegard Stenberg Eriksen and his brother, scriptwriter Gjermund Stenberg Eriksen, is running at the prestigious international drama competition against Moribito: Guardian of the Spirit from Japan, Wanted from Australia and Justicia from Brazil.

Ivar Køhn, head of NRK Drama said: “This [Emmy nomination] shows that NRK produces world-class drama. Being one of four nominees means in practice that Mammon is the one series chosen from Europe, and when we know what has been produced in Europe last year, we are very proud to be nominated.”

In the thriller Mammon 2 –Nothing is Just Politics (8x1h), freedom of speech is under attack as a well-known commentator and journalist in Norway's biggest newspaper is brutally murdered. Journalist Peter Verås (Jon Øigarden) investigates the case. The show co-produced by SVT/DR/YLE FEM with support from /Nordvision, won Best Sound Production and Best Costume/Makeup at Norway’s Gullruten awards. Beta Film handles world distribution.

Mammon 2’s selection comes two years after Anneke von der Lippe’s Best Actress International Emmy award for her role in NRK’s drama Eyewitness.

Other Nordic talents or production companies nominated at this year’s International Emmys comprise Yellow Bird’s English language crime show Wallander, produced with the UK’s Left Bank Pictures, vying for Best Actor (Kenneth Branagh), and Hans Rosenfeldt’s British noir Marcella, running for Best Actress (Anna Friel).

The International Emmy awards ceremony will be handed out in New York on November 20, 2017.