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Boutique distributor Strand Releasing may be small, but they have exquisite taste when it comes to the films they acquire. They're willing to take on films that others might feel have limited commercial appeal. Yet they're still going strong after nearly 20 years in the business, which means they know what they're doing. Recent releases include Aki Kaurismäki's Lights in the Dusk and Eytan Fox's The Bubble. Brian Brooks of indieWIRE reports that their latest acquisition, announced in Toronto on Saturday night, is Jacques Nolot's Before I Forget.

Strand has picked up all North American rights to the French drama. Jacques Nolot both directed and plays the lead role, "a former gigolo who has been HIV-positive for 24 years," according to a review by Lisa Nesselson in Variety when it played at Cannes. He "navigates a slew of physical and emotional obstacles with mordant aplomb. ... Proceedings would be risible and sordid in less-refined hands, but Nolot has a knack, often via nicely handled incongruity, for finding the human comedy in awkward situations."

Before I Forget is the third in a trilogy by Nolot that includes 1998's L' Arrière Pays and 2002's La Chatte à Deux Têtes. Nolot's film acting career covers more than 60 roles essayed over a period of more than three decades. Before I Forget screens for the public in Toronto on September 13 and 15. It's due to be released in its native France on October 17. Strand has not yet announced their distribution plans.

Defiantly planting themselves on the Los Angeles film calendar in the midst of blockbuster season, Outfest aims to celebrate all types of gay and lesbian films -- and is legendary for fabulous parties, too. Now in its 25th year, the festival began last Thursday; Kim Voynar has already noted some of the anticipated highlights. The festival 's opening gave Ernest Hardy a chance to ruminate on the current state of queer cinema. Writing in the LA Weekly last week, Hardy began: "Watching most contemporary queer movies, particularly the American ones, is to see art reflect the downside of the progress achieved in the culture wars." A great read.

Hardy's an excellent writer; in his blog, he reviews RuPaul's Starrbooty. Fellow LA Weekly writer Chuck Wilson made some general observations about the festival and reviewed several titles, singling out The Bubble (from Israel) and While You Are Here (from Germany). Taking a different approach at indieWIRE, Kim Adelman sang the praises of 15 outstanding shorts in the program, notably Pariah. Ross von Metzke has been filing daily dispatches for GayWired.com, in his latest, he says that Jonah Markowitz's Shelter is so refreshing "that it's the first time a gay American film from a gay American filmmaker has really resonated with me." Just to add a little swank, Mr. Nightlife Hollywood has a photo post from the cocktail reception for the doc For the Bible Tells Me So, which just got distribution. Greg Hernandez says seeing the film was at the top of his list of rich, special Outfest experiences. Andre Soares posted an opinionated overview and has followed up with more daily highlights. The festival continues through Monday, July 23.