2010 Vail Film Festival Announces Tribute Awards, New and Returning Sponsors, Expands Into Beaver Creek Resort

VAIL and BEAVER CREEK, Colo., March 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Colorado Film Institute has announced program details for the 2010 Vail Film Festival taking place from April 1-4, 2010 in Vail and Beaver Creek, America's top-rated ski resorts. For the first time, VFF will partner with nearby Beaver Creek, making this the biggest Vail Film Festival to date with over 90 film screenings and more panels, parties and industry talent present than ever before.  

2010 Tribute Awards will be given to actors Jane Seymour, Zach Braff and Dennis Haysbert. Jane Seymour will receive the Riva Award for Achievement in Acting, Dennis Haysbert will receive the Vanguard Award for Excellence in Acting, with Zach Braff receiving the Festival's Renegade Award for risk-taking in film. Jane Seymour has worked in both film and television, with the starring role in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and memorable roles in the films Live and Let Die, Somewhere In Time, Wedding Crashers, and The Assistants, playing at this year's Vail Film Festival. Zach Braff played the lead in NBC's hit show Scrubs, and wrote, directed, and starred in the critically acclaimed Garden State, as well as the starring role in the hit comedy The Last Kiss. Dennis Haysbert has created iconic characters on the hit shows 24 and The Unit, as well as in the films Far From Heaven, Jarhead, and Goodbye Bofana. Mr. Haysbert narrates the documentary When the Dragon Swallowed the Sun at the 2010 Vail Film Festival.

The festival kicks-off on April 1, with opening night film A Shine of Rainbows, a full-length drama directed by Vic Sarin and starring Connie Nielson and Aidan Quinn. The opening party will be presented by Zacapa Rum at the Vail Plaza Hotel.  

The Closing night film is Waiting for Forever directed by James Keach and starring Rachel Bilson, Richard Jenkins, Jaime King and Blythe Danner. Director James Keach will participate in a Q&A following the film. The festival weekend will conclude with an awards ceremony at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek with closing night party presented by Stella Artois to follow at Ford Hall.

An impressive 4-day program includes features, documentaries, shorts, animated family shorts, adventure films, student films and an activism showcase. Highlights: The Assistants from director Steve Morris with Joe Mantegna and Jane Seymour; The Hungry Ghosts from actor/director Michael Imperioli; Tibetan documentary, When the Dragon Swallowed the Sun, directed by Dirk Simon, with Richard Gere, Dennis Haysbert, the Dalai Lama, and bishop Desmond Tutu; South African documentary, Streetball, from director Demetrius Wren; 2010 Oscar® nominated short, Kavi, directed by Gregg Helvey; 2010 Oscar® winner, Best Live Action Short, The New Tenants, directed by Joachim Back. The following feature-length films will world premiere at the Vail Film Festival: Disrupt/Dismantle from director Jack Lucarelli, Inventing Adam from director Richie Adams, Ride the Divide from directors Mike Dion and Hunter Weeks, and Being in the World from director Tao Ruspoli.

VFF also offers an extensive program of interactive panels and Q&A's with film industry professionals and talent, an awards ceremony, live music and VIP parties. The Friday Night concert will feature talented musicians and artists from Los Angeles' acclaimed Hotel Cafe.

Major sponsors for the 2010 Vail Film Festival include new sponsors Zacapa Rum, Beaver Creek Resort Company, and Beaver Creek Merchant Association, and returning sponsors MetaFoundry, Audi, Stella Artois, Lufthansa, and Town of Vail.

Vail Film Festival supporting sponsors include Nestle® Cranberry Raisinets, MP&E equipment rental, SAG Indie (presenter of the student film showcase), Vail Resorts, CineBistro (presenter of the Awards Ceremony), 1st Bank, Slifer Smith & Frampton (presenter of the festival program guide), Camp Birchwood, Colorado Office of Film, Television & Media (presenter of the filmmaker reception), Vail Racquet Club (presenter of the Music Cafe), and Colorado Mountain Express.

Vail Daily, NRC Broadcasting, 5280 magazine, Comcast, PlumTV, and TV8 all return as official media partners of the 2010 Vail Film Festival.

Zacapa Rum is the official rum of the Vail Film Festival and will host the Zacapa Sipping Lounge, a luxury area for attendees and filmmakers to mingle and relax between films. Zacapa Rum will be provided at all festival events. Audi is the official vehicle of the Vail Film Festival and will provide VIP transport between festival venues. Lufthansa is the official airline of the Vail Film Festival and will host a VIP reception. Stella Artois is the official beer of the Vail Film Festival and will host the Stella Artois Cutting Room, an exclusive hospitality center for filmmakers and festival passholders. Stella Artois will be served at all festival parties and receptions.

MetaFoundry serves as the festival's marketing agency of record.

As always, VFF recognizes original feature-length and short screenplays. Feature screenplay winners include; 1st place, Running Gun written by Mike Bencivenga, 2nd place, Horror Comic written by Stephen Hoover and 3rd place, Tranquility Base written by Daniel Turkewitz. Short Screenplay winners are; 1st place, Crossbar Hotel written by Karrie Crouse, 2nd place, The Models NRT written by Joseph Medina and 3rd place, The Stranger's Room written by Shan Cleland.

A full 2010 program schedule can be found at www.VailFilmFestival.org.  

About Vail Film Festival:

The Vail Film Festival promotes independent filmmaking, with a special focus on new and innovative filmmakers. The Vail Film Festival is produced by the Colorado Film Institute, a non-profit arts organization. Additional information: www.vailfilmfestival.org or call (970) 476-1092.

SOURCE Vail Film Festival