Nikolaj Arcel’s Hans Christian Andersen Biopic Among First Titles To Be Supported Through Denmark’s New Production Incentive Scheme

My Fairytale Life, Nikolaj Arcel’s feature biopic of Hans Christian Andersen, is among seven titles that have received support in the inaugural round of funding from Denmark’s new production incentive scheme. 

A total of DKK 56.3 million, approximately EUR 7.5 million, was handed out during this first application round. The scheme, which opened for applications for the first time in March 2026, received 31 applications, the Danish Film Institute said. 

The Danish Production Incentive Scheme supports eligible productions with a reimbursement of 25% of qualifying production costs spent in Denmark. Support for each production is capped at DKK 20 million, approximately EUR 2.7 million.

The scheme consists of two sub-schemes, each with two annual application rounds: The Live Action Scheme, a program for feature films, fiction series, documentary films and documentary series with an annual budget of DKK 100 million, approximately EUR 13.4 million. There is also the Animated Films and Series Scheme, a program for animated films and series with an annual budget of DKK 25 million (EUR 3.3 million).

The second application round in 2026 will open in late August, with an expected application deadline of 24 September 2026.

My Fairytale Life is described as an “epic feature film” about the Danish author Hans Christian Andersen. Arcel has reteamed with co-writer Anders Thomas Jensen (The Last Viking), with whom he also wrote The Promised Land, on the project. Newcomer Casper Kjær Jensen will star as Andersen in the film. My Fairytale Life will be produced by Louise Vesth and Tine Mikkelsen for Zentropa Entertainments4 in co-production with Zentropa Berlin GmbH. Principal photography is expected to begin in late 2026.

Check out the other selected projects below.

Title	Company	Scheme	Genre	Grant
I skyggen af Samsam	A&M	Live Action Scheme	Documentary series	DKK 2.741 million / approx. EUR 0.37 million
My Fairytale Life	Zentropa	Live Action Scheme	Feature film	DKK 10.841 million / approx. EUR 1.45 million
Agenten der ikke var	SAM Productions	Live Action Scheme	Fiction series	DKK 16.670 million / approx. EUR 2.23 million
The Roulette Project	Danish Documentary	Live Action Scheme	Feature documentary	DKK 0.526 million / approx. EUR 0.07 million
Den Som Dræber, season 5	Miso Film	Live Action Scheme	Fiction series	DKK 12.802 million / approx. EUR 1.71 million
Ghost House	Hydralab	Animated Films and Series Scheme	Animated feature film	DKK 8.200 million / approx. EUR 1.10 million
Liva’s Band	OYA Copenhagen	Animated Films and Series Scheme	Animated fiction series	DKK 4.500 million / approx. EUR 0.60 million