Under a new 'Dogumentary' label, Denmark's Zentropa has finalised deals for a slate of docs to be mentored by Lars von Trier as a documentary equivalent to his Dogme-movement.

Organised by documentary arm Zentropa Real and headed by Carsten Holst, the idea has so far attracted filmmakers from Denmark (Sami Saif, Bente Milton, Mikael Klint, Claus Birch), Sweden (controversial Paal Hollander), Norway (Margreth Olin) and the UK.

The financial backers and co-producers include the Nordic Film Institutes, national broadcasters (DR, SVT, NRK) and Channel 4 in the UK. The latter will be the first to start production with a film on the World Cup.

"Lars von Trier has set up the rules and will mentor all the filmmakers," says producer Holst. "Part of the idea is that the investors have no influence on the content of the films, which we have financed before anyone decides what they will be about. That's quite unusual for documentaries. After we have finished all the films we will have a 3-day seminar for professionals, which Lars [von Trier] will host explaining his ideas."

The total budget for the films will be $985,000 (DKR8m) and all postproduction will be handled by Zentropa. The Nordic Film & TV-Fund are expected join the list of backers, while Holland's Isabella Films have expressed interest in joining the project as well.