It was without a doubt lady's choice this past Saturday night, as a star-studded crowd gathered for the 2nd annual Women in Film Independent Vision Awards.

The cocktail bash held at the Interactive Lounge at Park City's hippest hot spot, Harry O's, brought in nearly 300 guests who came to celebrate the extraordinary achievements and contributions women have made in independent film. Celebrities like Julia Stiles, Jacqueline Bisset, Stephen Baldwin, Stockard Channing and Sam Neill, were just a few of the famous faces on the scene-discussing films, sipping drinks and nibbling on tray-passed sushi appetizers.

Former Saturday Night Live star, Ellen Cleghorn, who's in town promoting the film Mac Arthur Park, served as the evening's Mistress of Ceremonies... "And the honorees are...famed film producer Gale Ann Hurd, well known for the box office hits, Aliens and Terminator, received the Founders Award for her lifetime commitment to supporting women in the industry. Actor Jessie Bradford, who stars in Hurd's latest project, Clock Stoppers, presented the honor.

Tamara Tunie of Caveman's Valentine, presented director Kasi Lemmons with the Independent Vision Award. The thriller reunited her with actor Samuel L. Jackson, whom she also directed in 1997's highest grossing indendent film, Eve's Bayou.

My First Mister's Leelee Sobieski proudly presented her director, actress Christine Lahti with the Vision Award. The film about two unlikely lovers premiered opening night at Sundance and was also Lahti's first stab at directing a full-length feature.

Shortly after the party, the former Chicago Hope star and Academy Award winner jetted back to sunny Los Angeles for the Golden Globe Awards (not missing a beat looking smashing in a beaded gown on the red carpet, we might add.) Lahti's husband, producer Tommy Schlamme, took home a globe for Best TV Drama for the hit show, The West Wing. How's that for a power couple?

Everyone exited the soiree in style, presenters each received exclusive Corem Rose designer handbags, while guests walked away carrying a One World Live canvas tote filled with all kinds of goodies. (Doesn't exactly compare to the $5,000 gift basket giveaway at the Globes, but everyone was quick to snatch these up.) The bags contained environment friendly journals from Zenway.net, a compact notebook from Mercedes Benz, products from Revlon's new Skinlights line, and of course, bottled water from Perrier and Calcium Springs. (Hey, festival going can be extremely dehydrating).

The generous presenting sponsors of this year's event were Sun Microsystems and Kenny Griswold of Net Worth Productions. The event was produced by Danny Kopels, DKMC.

Visit Women and Film online at www.WIF.org.
You can also visit the New York chapter of Women in Film at www.nywift.org/.