The Danish Film Institute has backed three new Danish films as well as a Danish co-production.

Shooting from late April is Anders Ronnow Klarlund's puppet tale Strings. It tells the story of royal heir Hal Tara, who goes in search of his father's murderer, but end up discovering the truth about his archenemies.

Set in a mythical fantasy world, the film shoots in Copenhagen until late June. Niels Bald produces for Bald Film, Revival ApS, Northern Lights (NOR) and major Nordisk Film with Rumle Hammerich acting as executive producer. The Danish Film Institute is injecting US$1m in the US$3.2m budget, which has already attracted funding from the Norwegian Film Fund, Nordic Film- & TV Fund and national broadcaster DR.

Also set to shoot this year from Nordisk Film is the feature directing debut of popular actress Paprika Steen (Okay, Open Hearts), Suffer The Little Children (Lad De Smaa Boern).

Starring Mads Mikkelsen and Sofie Grabol, it tells the story of a couple struck by tragedy when their daughter is killed in a traffic accident. The script is written by the prolific Lim Fupz Aakeson, who previously wrote hits such as Okay and Minor Mishaps. Thomas Heinesen produces the US$2m film, which received US$1m from the Danish Film Institute.

The Silk Road (working title) is the new film from acclaimed visual artist Jytte Rex's. A lyrical description of the inner universe of a dying woman, it is produced by Anne Wivel and Vibeke Vogel for their Barok Film outfit with Michael Obel of Thura Film acting as co-producer. The DFI has given a US$500,000 letter of intent.

Finally, the DFI has invested US$145,000 in Noi Albonoi is Dagur Kari's highly anticipated feature debut. The Icelandic film is already in competition in Rotterdam and Goteborg.

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