Taiwan gay drama
Summer heats U.S. theaters

Indie distributor Picture This! Entertainment has acquired North American rights to the Taiwanese gay-themed drama Eternal Summer

Leste Chen's feature revolves around two college-age childhood friends whose relationship is put to the test when a girl takes an interest in one of them. Her presence causes a conflict that unearths their long-suppressed feelings for each other.

Summer is Chen's sophomore feature after his 2005 horror film The Heirloom. It won the best new performer prize for Bryant Chang at Taipei's 2006 Golden Horse Awards.

The film has appeared at the Tokyo International Film Festival and the Hong Kong Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. The distributor said it will screen at North American festivals before a theatrical release this year. (Gregg Goldstein, Reuters/Hollywood Reporter)