The 2012 Vail Film Festival taking place from March 29 through April 1 will honor Golden Globe winning Writer/Director Fred Schepisi with the 2012 Vanguard Award and Krysten Ritter with the Excellence in Acting Award.

With a career in the industry spanning more than 36 years, Mr. Schepisi’s credits include 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. Past Vail Film Festival Vanguard award recipients include Josh Lucas, Harold Ramis, and Edward Pressman.

Mr. Schepisi’s latest film, The Eye of the Storm starring Academy Award-winner® Geoffrey Rush, Charlotte Rampling and Judy Davis will make its U.S. Premiere as the 2012 Vail Film Festival’s Opening Night Film.

Krysten Ritter will receive this year’s Excellence in Acting Award, joining past winners Kate Bosworth, Michelle Monaghan, and Jane Seymour.

Ritter’s most recent film, L!fe Happens, in which she stars and co-wrote alongside talented new filmmaker and Vail Film Festival Alum, Kat Coiro, will be screened as the 2012 Vail Film Festival’s Official Closing Night Film.