Nordisk Film & TV Fond and Göteborg Film Festival have announced the five drama series nominated for the Nordic Series Script Award, and among the nominees are Ingeborg Topsøe for Reservatet (Denmark), Karin Arrhenius for Jag for ner till bror (Sweden) and Tiina Lymi for Queen of Fucking Everything (Finland).

The Nordic Series Script Award recognises exceptional screenwriting in Nordic drama. This prestigious award, worth NOK 200,000, is presented annually at the Göteborg Film Festival’s TV Drama Vision. Financed by Nordisk Film & TV Fond, it is awarded to the main writer of a Nordic drama series that premiered in 2025. The winners of the awards will be announced at an award ceremony on the evening of January 27.

The four-part miniseries Jag for ner till bror premiered on SVT on December 26, and is being hailed as the best Swedish series of 2025. Adapted from Karin Smirnoff’s acclaimed debut novel, the series is written by Karin Arrhenius and directed by Sanna Lenken.

“Jag for ner till bror is the best Swedish TV series of the year. /…/ It should be impossible. How do you do justice to Karin Smirnoff’s acclaimed, almost mythically stark torrent of words on the often disenchanted TV screen? The answer comes in four hard-hitting episodes that pulverize any conceivable skepticism. /…/ It is once again time to celebrate screenwriter Karin Arrhenius.”
★★★★
– DN

“What resonates most strongly with me is how well this adaptation captures the relationship between the siblings. It also serves as a timely reminder, as the holiday season’s demand for total happiness by Boxing Day more often than not tends to drive one mad with one’s family of origin.”
★★★★★
– SvD

“Karin Smirnoff’s Jag for ner till bror has become an excellent miniseries. /…/ Despite a shimmering hint of fairy tale, Jag for ner till bror is above all emotionally true, coherent, and believable.”
★★★★
– Expressen

“By far the best Swedish TV series of the year. /…/ Hats off. Screenwriter Karin Arrhenius and director Sanna Lenken have turned Karin Smirnoff’s acclaimed 2018 debut novel Jag for ner till bror into a four-part miniseries — and it is something truly special, with extraordinary intensity in every single scene. /…/ Everything comes together in this distinctive, richly textured and intense world, existing somewhere between social realism and tall tale. And it is both moving and impressively unsentimental at the same time.”
★★★★
– Aftonbladet

The highly anticipated TV series Jag for ner till bror, written by Karin Arrhenius, will premiere on SVT Play on December 26.

Based on Karin Smirnoff’s praised novel of the same name, Jag for ner till bror is directed by Sanna Lenken and stars Amanda Jansson, Rasmus Johansson and Jakob Öhrman.

The beloved Astrid Lindgren classic Vi på Saltkråkan makes its long-awaited return as a brand-new TV series, premiering October 31 on SVT Play.

Vi på Saltkråkan is written by Karin Arrhenius and directed by Fredrik Edfeldt.

“The new Vi på Saltkråkan is an ingeniously sunny hit. /…/ Fredrik Edfeldt is responsible for the smooth, summer-mood-creating direction, while Karin Arrhenius delivers an ingeniously entertaining script packed with clever turns of phrase and exciting everyday drama.”

★★★★

DN

“There’s nothing more delightful than the new Saltkråkan.”

★★★★★
SvD

“The new Vi på Saltkråkan manages to preserve the idyll while still feeling alive for a new generation. /…/ The proof is clear: it is indeed possible to create new adaptations of Astrid Lindgren’s works and do them justice.”

★★★★

Filmtopp


“A warm, brave, and overall brilliant reinterpretation that stands a strong chance of becoming a future classic for a new generation. /…/ Director Fredrik Edfeldt and screenwriter Karin Arrhenius succeed with flying colors. /…/ The script is sharp and courageous. /…/ A well-produced, heartfelt, and intelligent TV series that skillfully balances modernization with faithful respect for Lindgren’s spirit.”

★★★★★
Filmparadiset



“This is, in fact, absolutely, absolutely wonderful!”
★★★★

Sveriges Radio


“The new adaptation of the beloved TV classic Vi på Saltkråkan shines from the very first moment with its boldness and sharp script. In true Astrid Lindgren spirit, it portrays life’s darkness with pitch-black humor and bittersweet sorrow. /…/ My daughter and I both laugh until we cry and cry out of compassion for the characters before the season is over.”

★★★★★
Moviezine


“It is a deceptively simple story about a summer vacation that, in the hands of the talented screenwriter Karin Arrhenius, suddenly suggests unexpected depth. /…/ This production has been handled with love and reverence, both toward the original and toward the craft itself. /…/ It is a worthy and beautiful story for a new generation of children – and adults.”

SVT Kultur

Karin Arrhenius, acclaimed screenwriter behind Blackwater (Händelser vid vattnet), amongst others, is the writer behind a new adaptation of Astrid Lindgren’s beloved series Life on Seacrow Island (Vi på Saltkråkan). The original series being one of the most popular Swedish series of all times, the new adaptation will take place in modern times with filming beginning in Stockholm’s archipelago in June.

“To be involved in preserving and renewing the free and wonderful universe of Life on Seacrow Island with all its colorful characters has been incredibly joyful”, says Karin Arrhenius, in a press release by SF Studios.

SF Studios and SVT (Sveriges Television) in collaboration with Beta Film Kids & Family are the producers behind the six-episode series, with a cast consisting of actors such as Henrik Norlén (Tsunami) and Vega Åhman.

Life on Seacrow Island will be released in Sweden on SVT and SVT Play in 2025.

The winners of the 2024 Ria Awards were announced this weekend, and the hit series Blackwater received the prize for ‘Best Scripted Series’.

Blackwater is written by Karin Arrhenius and Maren Louise Käehne, directed by Mikael Marcimain, and stars Pernilla August, Rolf Lassgård, Asta Kamma August, and Alba August.

The incredibly successful Netflix series A Nearly Normal Family has together with the immensely popular series Blackwater been nominated for Sweden’s Ria Awards 2024 in the category ‘Best Scripted Series’. A Nearly Normal Family is written by Anna Platt and Hans Jörnlind, with Per Hanefjord directing. Blackwater is written by Karin Arrhenius and Maren Louise Käehne, and directed by Mikael Marcimain.

The Ria Awards draws attention to and rewards the best creators, authors and employees in the Swedish television production industry. The winners will be announced on March 7 at Cirkus in Stockholm.

The winners of the prestigious Prix Europa have been announced, and Blackwater was named ‘Mini-Series of the Year.’ Based on Kerstin Ekman’s classic novel of the same name, Blackwater is written by Karin Arrhenius and Maren Louise Käehne, and directed by Mikael Marcimain.

Prix Europa is Europe’s largest festival for television, radio, and online media.

SVT’s Blackwater (Händelser vid vatten), written by Karin Arrhenius and Maren Louise Käehne, received Kristallen’s prestigious ‘Best Drama Series Award.’ 

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 Series Mania Festival has unveiled its champions and Blackwater triumphed in the International Panorama section, receiving the top prize for ‘Best Series’.

Based on Kerstin Ekman’s classic novel of the same name, Blackwater is written by Karin Arrhenius and Maren Louise Käehne, and directed by Mikael Marcimain.

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 nominees for the prestigious Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize 2023 are revealed. Among the five nominated series is Blackwater, written by Karin Arrhenius together with Maren Louise Käehne, and directed by Mikael Marcimain. 

On a Midsummer’s night in 1973, two tourists are found murdered in a tent, far up in the mountains of Northern Sweden, near the small town of Blackwater. An incident that intersects the lives of three random people, intertwining their destinies for better and for worse. And which, after years of repression, is brought back to life, interfering with the lives they now lead. The series is based on Kerstin Ekman’s classic novel Blackwater (Händelser vid vatten).

Blackwater will premiere on SVT Play on January 13. The winner will be announced on February 1, 2023.