Plenty of independent filmmakers struggle to find homes for their projects, but the directors of gay-themed fare might have it a little more difficult than some of their counterparts. Just ask C. Jay Cox, who wrote the screenplay for 2002's "Sweet Home Alabama" and directed Regent Releasing's upcoming "Kiss the Bride," which will serve as the opening night film for the 25th-anniversary edition of Outfest, the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, which begins today and concludes July 23. (For more details on festival programming, visit www.hollywoodreporter.com.)

"There are certain types of indie films that are just harder," Cox says. "'Kiss the Bride' is a gay-themed romantic comedy, so that's a little more difficult."

Echoing that sentiment is Michael Shoel, president and CEO of Ariztical Entertainment Inc., which specializes in distributing lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender content. "Often, commercial outlets don't recognize the films, not because of the gay issue but simply because there aren't a million movie stars in them. The problem with many distributors is half homophobia and half not knowing what to do with the movies."

That is precisely why some filmmakers are taking matters into their own hands and seeking out alternative distribution for their movies, either self-distributing or going straight to DVD, VOD or cable. That's not to say, however, that there aren't other viable options open to them. Outfest has screened more than 4,200 movies for more than half a million audience members--including acquisition and distribution executives--and companies such as Regent, TLA Releasing and Strand Releasing continue to provide directors with important theatrical outlets for projects featuring LGBT content.

But for directors like Todd Verow, whose film "Vacationland" premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival last year and screened at that year's Outfest, self-distribution became particularly attractive after he received offers only for DVD release.

Verow opened "Vacationland" at New York's Pioneer Theater in last August at no cost to...