‘Blackwater’ to premiere on SVT

The highly anticipated TV series Blackwater (Händelser vid vatten), written by Karin Arrhenius and Maren Louise Käehne, will premiere on SVT Play January 13, and on SVT1 January 15.

Based on Kerstin Ekman’s classic novel of the same name, Blackwater is directed by Mikael Marcimain and stars Pernilla August, Rolf Lassgård, Asta Kamma August and Alba August.

The six-part series has received outstanding reviews;

SVT’s intense and fantastic small town thriller Blackwater is top class. /…/ Worth every minute.
– DN ★★★★★

The first TV home run of the year came early. Blackwater is an almost perfect dramatization of Kerstin Ekman’s novel from 1993.
– SvD

Even though we’re only two weeks into the new year, it could very well be the best Swedish TV series of 2023.
– SVT Nyheter ★★★★

The December bestseller lists in Sweden

The final bestseller lists of December 2022 in Sweden saw Lars Kepler, Kristina Ohlsson and Ia Genberg all claim spots in the top. Lars Kepler’s The Spider became the No. 1 most sold hardcover fiction title of December, while Kristina Ohlsson’s Ice Breaker is No. 1 in paperback. Ia Genberg’s award-winning The Details came in at No. 3 in hardcover fiction on the weekly lists, and became the fifth most sold hardcover title of December.

‘Exodus’ to open Göteborg Film Festival 2023

The biggest festival in Scandinavia, Göteborg Film Festival opens with the world premiere of Abbe Hassan’s much awaited feature debut Exodus on January 27. Exodus will also compete for the title of ‘Best Nordic Film.’

‘The Spider’ No.1 most listened on Storytel

Lars Kepler’s The Spider is Storytel’s most-listened-to book of 2022. Despite being released in October last year, this gut-wrenching thriller still takes home the No.1 spot.

The December bestseller lists in Norway

The last bestseller lists of 2022 in Norway saw both Jo Nesbø and Lars Kepler feature at No. 1 on the hardcover lists; first Nesbø with Killing Moon – also the No. 1 most sold hardcover fiction title of the entire month – and then Lars Kepler with The Spider. Kepler’s title was additionally No. 1 on the e-book lists. Lastly, on the final set of lists, Kepler and Nesbø were joined by Liza Marklund, who came in at No. 1 on the paperback list with The Polar Circle.

‘The Prey’ sixteen weeks on Der Spiegel’s bestseller list

Yrsa Sigurdardóttir’s blood-curling and unnerving novel The Prey sails to No. 6 on Der Spiegel’s list for trade paperback this week. This marks the sixteenth consecutive week for the novel.

Hunter Shelley Photo: Hunter Shelley

Tuna Özer joins Salomonsson Agency

Writer and director Tuna Özer, educated at Stockholm Film School and Stockholm Academy of the Arts, is a maker of both fiction and documentaries. He is also an experienced segment producer, having worked at the public service companies SVT and UR.

Özer has made several acclaimed and thought-provoking shorts which have traveled to festivals around Sweden and internationally, including Red Moon (2012), Sealed Time (2016), Kevlar (2018), Centrum (2018) and The Pig From Turkey (2020).

Özer is the director of the coming comedy slasher series Ingen ängel, which will premiere on Viaplay (release date TBA). He is also currently developing his first feature film, which was part of the talent program Stockholm Debut.

‘Vernissage’ nominated for the 2023 Startsladden Award

Vernissage has been selected to compete for the prestigious Startsladden Award, one of the world’s largest awards for short film. The eight nominated shorts will be screened at the Göteborg International Film Festival January 29, and the winner will be announced at an award gala. 

Vernissage is directed by Arvin Kananian, and written by Kananian together with Nina Mårshagen. In the lead role we see Mårshagen as Siván and Kalled Mustonen as Simon.

Simon and Siván make the picture-perfect couple. Their lives are thoroughly curated, from the way they have sex to their choice of therapist. During an art exhibition, the dynamics between them harden. While Siván carries herself through the room, flawlessly interacting with the cultural elite, Simon is left to fend for himself. He’s made aware that his presence in Siván’s life is about

the optics rather than the love he thought they shared. Simon is faced with a choice. Will he confront the facade Siván has created, or will he continue to play a role in the drama that is her life?

Trygve Allister Diesen to direct ‘To Cook a Bear’

Disney+ has greenlit their first Nordic original series, To Cook A Bear, which is based on Mikael Niemi’s bestselling novel of the same name.

The six-part series takes place in the summer of 1852 in the village of Kengis, far north in Sweden. In the epic grandeur of the Northern polar landscape, we meet the newly appointed Pastor and his family. While the Pastor has a spiritual awakening which profoundly impacts the Sami and Tornedalians, the body of a shepherd’s girl is found inside a bog. Soon the villagers set out in search of the killer bear they fear is on the rampage.

Trygve Allister Diesen is set to direct, and Jesper Harrie is penning the adaptation, with Anagram Sweden producing.

Jo Nesbø and Lars Kepler No. 1 in Norway

Jo Nesbø stays put at No. 1 on the hardcover fiction list this week, placing first once more with Killing Moon. Lars Kepler claims another top spot on the lists with The Spider, which is No. 1 in e-books.