Independent passion.
Swedish precision.
Shared with you.

"Every watch keeps time.
Some keep secrets."

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The creation of The Watchmaker began as a fast-paced "act of showmanship," with the author delivering a screenplay in just six weeks based on a structure where "index cards spread across a table" served as the foundation. While the filming process in SkellefteĂĄ eventually became "organic no printed scripts, just instinct and collaboration," the author found a different kind of fulfillment in "novelising my own screenplay." This transition was described as a "liberating process" that allowed the writer to "explore what the characters were thinking, and deepen the themes." Ultimately, whether experienced as a film or the 50,000-word novel, the project remains a tribute to the power of storytelling, inviting audiences to enjoy the "key differences between the story in its two different formats."

The Book

Release: September 25, 2026

A novella written alongside the production of the film expands the world of The Watchmaker.

The story deepens the characters and the psychological landscape introduced in the film.

What begins as a desperate attempt to repair a broken watch evolves into a psychological chamber play, where four individuals, the thieves, the watchmaker, and his girlfriend Hedda, are forced to confront one another during an increasingly tense 24 hours. Beneath the surface simmer old betrayals, unexpected alliances, and a past that proves to be far more dangerous than any of them could have imagined.

‍The Watchmaker is a taut drama about morality, loyalty, and survival in a time when right and wrong are not always clear-cut. Inspired by the atmosphere and aesthetics of the 1960s, the film explores what happens when different worlds collide... and what people are prepared to do when pushed to their breaking point.

Available as: Print , E-book , Audiobook in Swedish and in the future it will be published in English.

The Album

Release: Q4 2026

An original music project inspired by the atmosphere and themes of The Watchmaker.

Exploring the film’s emotional and psychological landscape through sound, The album serves as the spiritual and sonic architecture for this "tightly wound thriller." Rather than just a background score, the music captures the "nerve-wracking" atmosphere that festival critics have praised. It mirrors the film’s 1960s aesthetic, blending the elegance of the era with the rising paranoia of a locked-room mystery.

Each track is designed to echo the mechanical heartbeat of the watchmaker’s tools and the escalating fear of the inevitable.

If the film is a study of people at their breaking point, the album is the sound of that tension snapping. It moves from the cold, rhythmic precision of the heist to the frantic, dissonant melodies of the "unholy alliances" that form in the dark.

Jonas Lawes

Director

Jonas began his career in front of the camera as an actor, but it didn’t take long before he was drawn to storytelling behind it.

In 2011, togetherwith cinematographer Niklas Ă…kerlund, he founded the production company Seize The Frame, with the aim of creating visually striking and cinematic commercials.

In recent years, their focus has increasingly shifted toward short films a field in which several of their works have gained recognition and been featured on UR, YouTube, and at lmfestivals, including Tromsø.

David Berglund

Producer

A successful entrepreneur and investor with a strong passion for film and creation, has had a clear vision for The Watchmaker.

The film aims togive talents in the Swedish Norrland lm industry the opportunity to growand take the next step in their professional careers.

It was equalimportant to create the right conditions for deep collaboration andcreative freedom between the actors and the director.

The goal was toproduce a unique lm that can both achieve international recognition andprovide a strong platform for passionate lm workers.

Sebastian Secker Walker

Writer

Sebastian Secker Walker is an English screenwriter based in UmeĂĄ. A UCLA Film School alumnus, he previously wrote for mainstream British TV and authored the feature drama The Last Musketeer.

Since moving to Sweden, he has collaborated with filmmakers David Berglund and Jonas Lawes on The Watchmaker, which premiered at the 2026 Tromsø International Film Festival to critical acclaim.

His novelization of the film will be published by Vibery Press later this year.

Mikael Israelsson

Composer

Mikael Israelsson began his musical journey by ear in front of a simple synthesizer, where his fascination for music was awakened by the world of cinema and learning classic film themes.

Following his studies at a specialized music college, he deepened his craft through years as a band member and session musician, where touring and intensive studio work in various constellations shaped his versatile soundscape. This background as a collaborator has laid the foundation for his approach to composition, where the visual narrative is always allowed to dictate the musical style.

In recent years, his focus has been on creating emotional music, aiming to let each unique project define its own sound. His work is characterized by a keen sensitivity to visual pacing and a commitment to amplifying the soul of the story rather than being confined to a specific genre.

Press and Media Reactions

Following its world premiere at the Tromsø International Film Festival and subsequent screenings at the Göteborg Film Festival, The Watchmaker quickly attracted attention from both audiences and critics.

Festival screenings played to full houses, with Göteborg adding an additional screening due to audience demand
Upcoming festivals and events...
For its thoughtfully crafted characters and production design, The Watchmaker is a respectable feature.
- Cineuropa -
The Watchmaker – the rock’n’roll project that defies the Swedish film odds.
- KULT Magasin -
A Swedish thriller unfolding largely within a single enclosed location.
- Universal Cinema Magazine -
A tight, exciting thriller that stands out in the Swedish film landscape.
- MovieZine -
As a debut, this is an incredibly well-made and watchable one.
- MovieZine -
The performances are ultimately where the work shines...
- Cineuropa -
Swedish Reservoir Dogs.
- Festival audience reaction -

Independent Journey

The Watchmaker was produced independently outside the traditional Nordic funding system.

From the initial concept to the completed feature film, the project was realised in just fifteen months.

More than sixty collaborators contributed across the process, from development and production to post-production.

Working with a compact core team and direct decision-making allowed
the film to move quickly while maintaining artistic focus and production quality.

The project stands as a demonstration of how focused independent filmmaking can create ambitious work outside established structures.

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