AceShowbiz - Uma Thurman and Rosario Dawson were among the stars honored at the Cannes Film Festival in France on Thursday, May 12, for their contributions to independent moviemaking. Director Jane Campion was also recognized for her new film "Sleeping Beauty", as was the picture's producer, Jessica Brentnall, according to the Associated Press.

Dawson, who has also starred in a number of mainstream films, including "Men in Black 2" and "Sin City", insists she will never forget her acting roots. She says, "I've been acting since [I was] 15, doing independent films and now we have all of these women directors who are being nominated and their films are being shown and put across this audience. I think it's fair and that's exciting to see that over all these years."

Guests at the ceremony included Vanessa Hudgens, who paid tribute to the stars who were honored, "I think it's really great when somebody gives women an opportunity to come out and stand up for what they are doing, and I'm so excited to be here."