U.N. backs stereotype-fighting film fund

MADRID, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The United Nations, during the Alliance of Civilizations forum in Madrid, announced its backing of a $100 million film fund to combat stereotypes in movies.

Participant Productions, Summit Entertainment, ICM and YouTube are believed to have signed on as partners to the fund, which has already secured a $10 million investment, Variety reported Monday.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told delegates from 63 countries attending last week's summit he hoped the fund would help "counter ugly stereotypes in popular culture."

The Alliance of Civilizations Media Fund will support the production and distribution of films "that entertain as well as enlighten," said Queen Noor of Jordan, and will "enhance the connections that already exist between different societies but are seldom noted onscreen and in popular culture."

The queen, the U.S.-born wife of the King Hussein, who died in 1999, said she has "agonized" how stereotypes "can set the emotional and political stage for policies that result in chronic misunderstanding."