Try suspending to RAM and waking it up again. Sometimes, the brightness keys don't work for me either. Suspending + waking up once seems to fix it.
- Thinkpad X220, can't control screen brightness via key... misc nick
- Re: Thinkpad X220, can't control screen brightnes... Michael McConville
- Re: Thinkpad X220, can't control screen brightnes... Rares Aioanei
- Re: Thinkpad X220, can't control screen brightnes... Henrik Friedrichsen