Six new Danish films and two Danish-Swedish co-productions have been greenlit after securing support from the Danish Film Institute.

Two of these have received backing through the so-called 60/40 deal based on their high commercial potential, as they will be directed by the two successful female directors Hella Joof (Shake It All About) and Susanne Bier (Open Hearts).

Joof's Oh Happy Day is written by Jannik Johansen (Stealing Rembrandt) and actress Lotte Andersen and is a 'divine' comedy about a middle-aged woman saved from her dull existence by a black American gospel-preacher.

Hit producer Thomas Gammeltoft (Stealing Rembrandt, Shake It All About) of Fine & Mellow Productions has attracted US actor Malik Yoba (New York Undercover) to the role as the preacher, and the London Community Choir will be performing in the film as well.

The $3.2m comedy received $1m in state funding and starts shooting from October.

Bier's previously announced family drama Brothers follows two brothers, one a UN soldier married with two kids, the other the family's black sheep straight out of prison, and what happens when the latter is left to take care of the family.

Scripted by Bier and Anders Thomas Jensen (Open Hearts, The Green Butchers) and produced by Peter Aalbaek Jensen and Sisse Graum Olsen the $2.9m Zentropa production received $1.2m from the Danish Film Institute.

Another four Danish films were greenlit through the Institutes film commissioners: Lotte Svendsen's Rejs Jer Fordoemte (working title), Jacob Thuesen's Holding Your Breath (working title), South Park'ish black comedy Terkel In Trouble directed by Stefan Fjeldmark (Help! I'm A Fish) and Den Joediske Legetoejsgrossist [literally: The Jewish Toy Merchant] by director Jacob Groenlykke.

Finally two Swedish films secured funding through their Danish co-producers. Teresa Fabik's youth film Hip Hip Hora, and Kay Pollak's feel-good drama Saa Som I Himmelen.