Copenhagen launches new film and media fund to strengthen its position as a European creative hub

Copenhagen Municipality has announced the creation of a new media fund aimed at supporting the film, gaming, and mixed-media industries in the capital region. Reported by multiple local Danish sources, the fund has a total allocation of DKK 40.5 million over four years, and is intended to create jobs, attract and train new talent, foster innovation, and secure the industries’ intellectual properties (IPs), positioning Copenhagen as a leading European audiovisual hub.

The fund follows the closure of the Copenhagen Film Fund in 2020, which left Eastern Denmark without a dedicated film backing mechanism. In the meantime, productions increasingly relocated to Funen and Jutland, where FilmFyn and the West Danish Film Fund operate. The new Copenhagen media fund is designed not only to support films, but also game projects and cross-media IPs, reflecting the growing convergence of creative sectors.

Copenhagen’s Mayor for Culture and Leisure, Mia Nyegaard, who initiated the fund, highlighted the city’s unique concentration of creative and technological talent. “Film, especially games and digital media, receive less attention than they should in Copenhagen. The capital region accounts for 91% of revenue, 82% of jobs, and 70% of companies in Denmark’s creative industries. Strong IPs and stories are already being developed here, with potential to expand across platforms - from cinema and streaming to games and interactive experiences. The world’s most downloaded mobile games, such as Subway Surfers, were developed and produced in Copenhagen,” Nyegaard said.

The fund will support both traditional formats, including feature films, animation, short films, and documentaries, as well as new production forms like digital and interactive experiences. For 2026, the allocations include DKK 2 million for administration, DKK 1.5 million for IP development, DKK 1.5 million for game projects, and DKK 10 million for film financing to meet the co-financing requirement against a state subsidy of DKK 27 million.

This initiative complements the recently agreed Danish production rebate scheme, offering tax incentives for film and series productions shooting in Denmark. Together, the fund and rebate scheme aim to retain productions domestically, countering the longstanding trend of moving projects abroad.

The fund’s creation follows a growing recognition of the economic and cultural value of film, gaming, and digital media, which generate jobs, attract investment and tourism, and foster international collaborations. Last summer, more than 100 industry professionals gathered for an inspiration day to discuss the framework for the fund, emphasising the need for a mechanism that can operate across sectors, supporting production, innovation, talent development, and international partnerships.

Copenhagen Municipality is now engaging with private and public stakeholders to establish the necessary partnerships for the fund, including securing regional and state support. While the fund’s allocations for games and IP development are relatively modest, Nyegaard expressed hope that they would be seen as a meaningful contribution and an opportunity for the sector. She also anticipates that returns from the fund could be reinvested in further creative projects.

In addition to reinforcing Copenhagen’s status as a creative hub, the fund is expected to stimulate the development of new talent, strengthen creative communities, and attract both investments and international projects, ensuring that the city maintains its competitive position.