FramelineDistribution director Desi del Valle has announced she is leaving the SanFrancisco-based non-profit distributor of gay and lesbian cinema to pursue otherinterests including her acting career.

Del Valle joinedFrameline, which also presents the San Francisco International Lesbian &Gay Film Festival, in 1992 as a distribution assistant, taking overdistribution two years later.

Maura King, whohas been del Valle's distribution associate for two years, will serve asinterim distribution director.

Under delValle's guidance, Frameline has amassed a wide-ranging collection of worldwidetitles and provided distribution services for emerging film-makers who may nothave otherwise had their work distributed.

Key acquisitionsunder del Valle's tenure include Sonja de Vries' Gay Cuba, Sam Zolten's Just Call Me Kade, and Joan E Biren's No SecretAnymore: The Times Of Del Martin And Phyllis Lyon.

"Working withFrameline Distribution for the last 12 years has been a highlight of myprofessional career," del Valle said in a statement. "But it is time for me tomove on, as I would like to give more attention to my acting career and pursueother creative interests."

Michael Lumpkin,executive director of Frameline, said: "Part of Frameline's mission has alwaysbeen to expand awareness and appreciation for LGBT communities through cinema,and Desi aggressively expanded Frameline Distribution's presence in schools, librariesand on television over the last decade.

"In particular,her Send It Home programme, which encouraged supporters to purchase and sendvideos to their hometowns, helped place films and videos of interest to LGBTcommunities in all 50 states."