"I am woman, hear me roar!" With Women in Film's Independent Vision Awards, held during the Sundance Film Festival, we can also add "Oh -- and see my film." This year's recipients Christine Lahti and Kasi Lemmons prove that women have so much to contribute, not only in front of, but also behind the camera.

After reading the results of a 1973 report by the Writer’s Guild of America stating that women penned only 2% of television scripts, Sue Cameron and Tichi Wilkerson-Kassel decided to create an organization to alter the situation. Women in Film’s first endeavor was the Crystal Awards in 1974, a ceremony to celebrate the achievements of women involved in all aspects of filmmaking. That first year, Lily Tomlin was the award recipient; other winners have included Goldie Hawn and Geena Davis.

For women in television, WIF created the Lucy Awards in 1994, named as a tribute to Lucille Ball "who played an extraordinary role in revolutionizing the television industry." Over the years, the honorees have included Angela Lansbury, Tracey Ullman, Marlo Thomas and Garry Marshall.

Just last year another ceremony was created to pay tribute to women: The Independent Vision Awards is held during the Sundance Film Festival "to honor women in the film community who, through their bodies of work, have transformed or made significant contributions to independent film." This year Women in Film are honoring two female filmmakers whose work is also in competition at Sundance.

Christine Lahti makes her feature-length film debut with My First Mister, a film about an unlikely romance between two complete opposites. Her first crack at directing won her an Academy Award in 1995 for the short film Lieberman in Love. Best known for her acting in such films as Swing Shift, Running on Empty and the TV show Chicago Hope, her work has won her an Emmy and a Golden Globe, and was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Swing Shift.

Actress-turned-director Kasi Lemmons' sophomore feature The Caveman’s Valentine also premieres at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Her first feature, Eve’s Bayou, which she wrote and directed, made more money than any other independent film in 1997 and also won her an Independent Spirit Award. The Caveman’s Valentine reunites her with Samuel L. Jackson in a story about a genius dealing with his madness.

This year’s Independent Vision Awards will also consist of a special Founder’s Award given to Gale Anne Hurd for her continued dedication to women in entertainment. When we think of action movies, generally masculine words pop into our minds. However, Hurd has spent almost three decades producing some of the best and highest grossing action-adventure films. Some of the films she has been involved in are: Terminator (which she also co-wrote), the Academy Award winning Aliens, The Abyss and Sundance Award winner The Waterdance.

Last year’s recipients were Lisa Krueger, whose feature Committed was honored at Sundance, and Stacey Sher, producer of such films as Erin Brockovich, Man on the Moon, Living Out Loud and Pulp Fiction. This year's awards will be held on January 20, 2001 at the Interactive Lounge at Harry O’s in Park City.

Check out Women in Film's New York Chapter online at: www.nywift.org