Director Allison Anders, whose films include Things Behind TheSun, Gas Food Lodging and the Hispanic drama Mi Vida Loca, will receive this year's 4th AnnualVision Award from the Filmmakers Alliance.

Anders is the first woman to collect the honour that recognisesestablished directors who have maintained a distinct artistic vision throughouttheir career. Previous recipients include Mike Figgis and Terry Gilliam.

She will collect her award at X, the creative collective's 10thanniversary gala and annual screening set to take place at the Directors Guildof America in Los Angeles on August 10.

Since its inception the Filmmakers Alliance has supportedproduction on numerous features, shorts, documentaries, commercials, musicvideos and experimental projects.

Projects that have benefited from the Alliance include BabakShokrian's America So Beautiful, a drama about the lost generation of Iranian Americans thatplayed at Berlin and the Marrakech International Film Festival.

Other titles include Dahmer, David Jacobson's acclaimed horror-drama about the serialkiller Jeffrey Dahmer that received three Independent Spirit Awards nominationsearlier this year.