Official Selection: Buenos Aires International Film Festival 2025

Nominee: Cinematography, Guldbagge Awards 2025

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Interview Opps: Cast and director/writer/consultant Per Gessle of Sounds of Summer available

Close out this season on a high note with Sounds of Summer—a high-energy, music-filled and “almost true” story of legendary Swedish pop sensation Gyllene Tider, one of the most successful bands in Sweden ever. Fronted by Per Gessle, who would later become the co-founder of Roxette, the band lit up the charts with infectious pop-rock anthems like “Sommartider” (1982), “När vi två blir en” (1980), “Flickorna på TV2” (1980), and "Ska vi älska, så ska vi älska till Buddy Holly" (1980). Gessle himself was a consultant on the film, adding authenticity and heart to the story. Sounds of Summer makes its exclusive U.S. and U.K. debuts on the Viaplay streaming service on Thursday, September 18, 2025.

Directed by Per Simonsson (Black Lake) and named after the band’s most enduring hit, Sounds of Summer is a breezy, very inspiring 97-minute ride that follows Gessle from small-town outsider to pop trailblazer. It begins with his all-consuming love for music, and his bond with fellow musicians MP, Micke, Anders, and Göran. In their small town of Halmstad, these teenagers begin jamming together, sparking big dreams of pop stardom. Even with a sickly father dismissing Gessle’s ambitions and constant jibes about his singing or lack of a “real job,” Per becomes even more determined to prove them wrong.

Sounds of Summer captures the band’s highs and lows on the road to chart-topping fame—sweaty rehearsals, intimate local gigs, and recording sessions that would yield Swedish pop classics. We see their clashes with skeptical record executives in Stockholm, their early tours around Sweden, and their growing bond as friends and musicians. Their perseverance culminates in the runaway success of “Sommartider” in 1982, cementing their place in Sweden’s pop culture history. Although they officially disbanded in 1985, Gyllene Tider has reunited several times since.

With heart, humor, and plenty of toe-tapping music, Sounds of Summer is a love letter to the power of friendship, determination, and the thrill of chasing big dreams with your bandmates.

Sounds of Summer (Sommartider) was directed by Per Simonsson and produced by Nevis Productions for Viaplay. The standout ensemble cast features Valdemar Wahlbeck as Per Gessle, Ville Lövgren as Mats “MP” Persson, Phoenix Parnevik as Micke Syd Andersson, Lancelot Hedman Graaf as Anders Herrlin, Xawier Kulas as Göran Fritzon, and Ella Tiritiello as Marie Fredriksson.

(Viaplay film, 1 x 97”, Swedish with English subtitles, 2024)

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About Viaplay:

The Viaplay streaming service features thousands of hours of premium Nordic and European series and films from Scandinavia's largest and most recognized television/streaming platform. Viaplay’s content offering focuses on the Nordic region’s high-quality and psychologically penetrating titles: from atmospheric and suspenseful crime dramas and provocative and stylish young adult series to award-winning dramas and riveting documentaries. On par with the best on television, Viaplay series feature first-rate production values, incredible scenery, award-worthy acting, and edge-of-your-seat storylines. Viaplay U.S. is available as an add-on subscription on Prime Video Channels, The Roku Channel, Comcast Xfinity, and more for only $5.99 a month. All titles are available in their original language with English subtitles. Link: http://amazon.com/video/viaplayus. Viaplay U.K. is available as an add-on subscription on Prime Video Channels at  www.amazon.co.uk/channels/viaplayuk

U.S. Press Contact: Eddie Ward, On behalf of Viaplay - 917-864-6446 / eddie@eddiewardPR.com    

U.K. Press Contact: Deb Shenholds, Aim Publicity, debbie@aimpublicity.com