Swedish writer-director Björn Stein’s Summer of 1985 (Svärtan) will have its world premiere in competition at Canneseries, which this year runs from 23-28 April (see the news). The six-part series combines elements of psychological drama, youthful adventure and the supernatural, unfolding against the evocative backdrop of Sweden’s long summer days.

Set in 1985, the story begins when a teenage boy is found drowned near the mythical island of Svärtan in the Stockholm archipelago. Fourteen-year-old Johannes and his friends, who spend their summer holidays on a nearby island, find themselves drawn into a murder investigation that shakes their small community. What initially appears to be a tragic accident soon spirals into something far more unsettling, as the teenagers stumble upon an injured, ancient and inexplicable creature they were never meant to find, blurring the line between legend and reality. As they attempt to conceal their discovery, jealousy, grief and suspicion begin to fracture their relationships, turning a summer of freedom into a descent into fear and mistrust.

The young ensemble cast includes breakout actor Linus Rogsgård in the lead role of Johannes, with Ture Nerman (as Mattias), Nelly Anderbro and Stina Kristiansen (as Felicia) forming the group of teenagers. They are joined by established names such as Josefin Neldén (The Swedish Torpedo), Sanna Sundqvist (Call Mom!) and Rolf Lassgård (Blackwater, Whiskey on the Rocks), who plays a character known as the “Gunpowder Man”.

Stein, widely known as the co-creator of the hit series The Bridge, serves as conceptual director and helms half of the episodes of Summer of 1985, following his previous work on Shadowplay and Whiskey on the Rocks. The series was created by Amy Deasismont (Nelly Rapp Monster Agent) and Melina Maraki, with Deasismont directing the remaining episodes. Based on the novel of the same name by Let the Right One In author John Ajvide Lindqvist, the drama blends coming-of-age storytelling with supernatural elements. Deasismont commented: “The mix of darkness and humour, the recognisability of John Ajvide’s precise characters, and the nostalgia of looking back at a life-changing time – where what you want to remember and perhaps also forget cannot be avoided – is what drew me to the project.”

Summer of 1985 is being produced by Anna-Klara Carlsten for Sweden’s Media Res Studio, in co-production with Sveriges Television (SVT) and Film Stockholm. Its international sales are handled by Fifth Season, following a recently announced partnership with Media Res International aimed at bringing globally resonant stories to wider audiences. The series is slated to premiere on SVT in 2026.