Picture This!Entertainment has acquired all US rights and Canadian video/DVD rights toFrancis Girod's transsexual thriller Gender Bias, with theatrical release set for summer2004.

Based onBrigitte Aubert's novel Transfixions, the film was released through Pyramide SA in France as MauvaisGenre and this weekreceived its US premiere at San Francisco's (Frameline) InternationalLesbian and Gay Film Festival.

The story centres on one man's race to discover theidentity of a serial killer stalking transsexual prostitutes in red lightdistrict of Brussels. The film stars Robinson Stevenin, who won a 2002 CesarAward for the role.

'Weacquired this terrific feature because of the amazing performances andGirod's great storytelling skills,' Picture This! president DougWitkins said in a statement.

Picture This!Entertainment launched at Cannes in 1996 and specialises in gay, lesbian andbisexual films.

Previous releases include ComeUndone and O Fantasma. The company's next release will be Ilan DuranCohen's French romantic comedy Confusion Of Genders, which opens in New York on Jul 4.