Swedish Psychological Thriller The Watchmaker to Premiere at Tromsø International Film Festival

Skellefteå, Sweden - 18th January 2026 - Set in Stockholm in 1968, The Watchmaker follows two young men whose minor theft spirals into a tense psychological confrontation inside a watchmaker’s workshop. What begins as a race against time gradually transforms into a claustrophobic chamber thriller driven by fear, distrust, and moral uncertainty.  

The film stars Otto Fahlgren, Hanna Alström, Olle Sarri, and Casper Berglund. Inspired by the aesthetics of 1960s Nordic cinema, the film builds tension through silence, proximity, and emotional restraint rather than spectacle.

Produced by Blue Snow Production and Seize The Frame, The Watchmaker was completed in just over a year on a limited budget, marking the feature debut of director Jonas Lawes, producer David Berglund, and cinematographer Niklas Åkerlund.

Following its premiere, the film will also screen with an introduction and Q&A session featuring the filmmakers and cast on Wednesday, January 21 at Bryggeriet Scene in Tromsø.

Positioned within the tradition of Nordic noir and European psychological thrillers, The Watchmaker offers a morally complex and character-driven cinematic experience where atmosphere and emotional precision take center stage.

More information about the festival screening is available via the Tromsø International Film Festival official programme.