Our film program is set and our schedule is live! We're ready for the 2012 Vail Film Festival and are excited to share 58 groundbreaking, engaging, and entertaining independent films!

Highlights include the U.S. premiere of ‘The Eye of the Storm.’ Directed by Fred Schepisi ('Roxanne,' 'Six Degrees of Separation,') and starring Academy Award-winner® Geoffrey Rush, Charlotte Rampling and Judy Davis. 'The Eye of the Storm' was nominated for twelve Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) awards. Fred Schepisi will be in attendance for a Q&A following the screening. Screening Thursday, March 29th, 7:30pm, at the Vail Mountain School.

The Friday Night featured film is ‘6 Month Rule.’ Written and directed by Vail Film Festival alum Blayne Weaver, the film stars Weaver, Martin Starr, Jaime Pressly, and Natalie Morales, many of whom will be in attendance for a Q&A following the screening. Screening Friday, March 30th, 7pm, at the Cadillac Theater at the Four Seasons.

Special Saturday screening of 'Puncture' starring Chris Evans ('Captain America,' 'Push,' 'Fantastic Four,'), and Mark Kassen, and directed by Adam Kassen and Mark Kassen. The Kassens will be in attendance for a Q&A following the screening. Screening on Saturday, March 31st, 2:45pm at the Sebastian.

Closing Night Film,‘L!fe Happens,’ helmed by Vail Film Festival alum and talented new director Kat Coiro, starring Krysten Ritter, Kate Bosworth, and Rachel Bilson. Kat Coiro and Krysten Ritter will be in attendance to introduce the film. Screening Saturday, March 31st, 8pm at the Vail Mountain School.

View the 2012 Film Schedule

Volunteer for the Vail Film Festival and get access to the Hospitality Lounge and all film screenings. Volunteers help out at our theaters, will call, welcome tent, hospitality lounge, parties, Friday concert, and more. If you want to be involved shoot us an email at volunteer@vailfilmfestival.org or call 970.476.1092. For more info and to download our volunteer form, Click Here.

We're giving away a few tickets to our Opening Night Party, presented by Chipotle. The party is the offiicial kick off to the 2012 Vail Film Festival and includes a complimentary custom Chipotle Taco Bar, and complimentary Stella Artois beer. 8:30pm, Thursday March 29th at the Lodge at Vail. For a chance to win tickets to our opening party, email party@vailfilmfestival.org

Award winning film director Fred Schepisi's credits include current release ‘The Eye of the Storm,’ ‘Six Degrees of Separation,’ ‘Last Orders,’ ‘The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith,’ ‘Roxanne,’ ‘Evil Angels’ and mini-series ‘Empire Falls’ for which he gained an Emmy nomination for best director and won a Golden Globe for Best Mini-Series. The Vail Film Festival is proud to honor Mr. Schepisi with the Vanguard Award for achievement in film. Mr. Schepisi’s new film ‘The Eye of the Storm’ will open this year’s festival at 7:30pm, Thursday March 29th at the Vail Mountain School. The film stars Academy Award-winner® Geoffrey Rush, Charlotte Rampling and Judy Davis, and was nominated for twelve Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) awards. The film will be released in the US by Sycamore Entertainment Group Inc. Mr. Schepisi will receive the award at the Festival Awards Ceremony, 6:30pm, Saturday March 31st at the Vail Mountain School. For Passes, Click Here.

Actress Krysten Ritter has become one of the most sought after actors in Hollywood, and we are honored to give her the 2012 Vail Film Festival Excellence in Acting Award. Krysten Ritter's films include Dreamworks' comedy ‘She's Out of My League,’ the Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer film ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic,’ “What Happens in Vegas,’ ‘27 Dresses’ and Amy Heckerling's comedy ‘Vamps.’ In Television she has starred in ‘Breaking Bad,’ the leading role on the Starz series ‘Gravity’ and recurring roles on ‘Gilmore Girls’ and ‘Veronica Mars.’ Ritter is the lead actor and co-writer of the Vail Film Festival Closing Night Film, ‘L!fe Happens,’ directed by talented new filmmaker Kat Coiro, and co-starring Kate Bosworth and Rachel Bilson. Krysten Ritter can next be seen in the new ABC show ‘Don't Trust The B In Apt 23.’ ‘L!fe Happens’ screens at 8pm, March 31st at the Vail Mountain School. Ms. Ritter will receive the award at the Festival Awards Ceremony, 6:30pm, Saturday March 31st at the Vail Mountain School. For Passes, Click Here.

The Friday Concert Features Sara Bareilles (Known for ‘Love Song,’ ‘Winter Song,’ ‘King of Anything,’ Three-time Grammy nominee, Celebrity judge on NBC’s hit show ‘The Sing Off’), Cary Brothers (Best known for ‘Blue Eyes’ from the Grammy-winning ‘Garden State’ soundtrack), Greg Laswell, Javier Dunn, Buddy, Harper Blynn, and Laura Jansen.

$25 tickets available online. Includes complimentary Stella Artois beer.

8:30pm, Friday, March 30th, Sebastian Vail. Click HERE for more info.

As VFF host hotel, The Sebastian in Vail Village will host the VFF Hospitality Lounge where attendees and filmmakers can gather between films to relax and enjoy Stella Artois, our official beer. The Sebastian will also be one of the festival's primary screening venues, and will host our Filmmaker Reception, Friday Night Concert, and our Closing Night Party, the final gala of the festival, following the Awards Ceremony at the Vail Mountain School on Saturday night. Click here for more info on the Sebastian and to book your room during the fest.

We're excited to once again have CineBistro at Solaris
 as an official Vail Film Festival screening venue. 
CinéBistro is a sophisticated “dinner-and-a-movie” experience located at Solaris in Vail Village. Offering amenities such as reserved seating in over-sized leather seats, in-theatre, full-service dining and state-of-the art movie viewing for this year’s Vail Film Festival. Enjoy Chef created American Bistro cuisine including appetizers, sandwiches/salads, entrees and scrumptious desserts along with fine wines and signature cocktails. For full in-theatre service, guests must arrive 30 minutes before showtime. CinéBistro also features a contemporary bar and lounge perfect for gatherings before and after the show. Families welcomed. Visit the CineBistro website here.

We are thrilled that our 2011 Closing Night Film, LOSING CONTROL, was picked up for distribution by House Lights Media during the festival, and hits theaters March 23rd! LOSING CONTROL is a smart and original, quirky comedy about a female scientist who wants proof that her boyfriend is "the one." Directed by Valerie Weiss. Starring Miranda Kent, and Reid Scott. See the trailer HERE