Full Sail University Teams Sweep All Three Major Awards in Coca-Cola Refreshing Films Program [Sponsored]Filmmaker Magazine

Overview of the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films Program

The Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program, established in 1998, serves as one of the most significant talent pipelines in the American film industry for emerging creators. For nearly three decades, the initiative has invited students and recent graduates from a select group of participating film schools across the United States to submit original scripts. These scripts must adhere to a specific creative brief provided by Coca-Cola, typically focusing on the synergy between the beverage brand and the immersive experience of moviegoing.

The competition is structured to mirror the rigors of professional branded content production. After an initial script submission phase, a panel of industry experts selects a small number of finalists who are then tasked with producing their scripts into 60-second films. For the 2026 cycle, the competition was exceptionally rigorous, with only three submissions nationwide advancing to the final production phase. Full Sail University’s ability to secure two of those three finalist slots—and subsequently win the major awards—highlights the institution’s competitive edge in technical training and narrative execution.

Behind the Screens: A Triumph in Technical Narrative

The graduate team’s production, Behind the Screens, was written and directed by Film graduate Angel Quinapallo and produced by Kylie Shouse. The film was awarded the Red Ribbon Panel Grand Prize, the highest honor in the competition, which is determined by a committee of high-level industry executives and creative directors.

The narrative of Behind the Screens explores a whimsical, high-energy "hidden world" existing behind the cinema screen. This world is depicted as a repository of cinematic history where characters and elements from various eras of film work in a state of "controlled chaos" to ensure the audience experiences the magic of the movies. The production was noted for its ambitious scope, featuring a cast of dozens in period-accurate costumes and the creation of complex practical props, including a custom-built T-Rex tail.

The production utilized Full Sail’s Studio V1, a $3 million virtual production facility. By leveraging LED volume technology, the team was able to blend physical sets with digital environments, a technique increasingly used in major Hollywood productions like The Mandalorian. This integration of virtual production allowed the team to achieve a scale that would traditionally be impossible within the constraints of a student budget and a 60-second runtime.

What Makes Them Magic: Capturing the Audience’s Choice

While the graduate team impressed the industry panel, the undergraduate team resonated most deeply with the public. What Makes Them Magic, written and directed by Brandon Bishop and produced by Christina Almuina, secured the Cinemark Fan Favorite award following a period of nationwide audience voting.

The film focuses on the transformative power of cinema, following various audience members as they are inspired by the images on screen. The narrative depicts a father envisioning his daughter’s future, a recent graduate finding the courage of a warrior, and friends strengthening their bonds through shared stories. The film was praised for its emotional resonance and its ability to distill complex human experiences into a concise, branded format.

Like its counterpart, What Makes Them Magic utilized a combination of on-location filming at AMC Altamonte Springs and technical sequences within Studio V1. The project involved a cross-departmental effort, drawing on students from the Film & Television programs as well as specialists in 3D arts and audio production.

Technical Excellence in Sound and Music

A critical component of Full Sail’s sweep was the recognition of Kevin Kraus, a Music Production graduate and Full Sail Lab instructor, who won the Best Music Composition Award. His work on Behind the Screens was cited for its ability to match the fast-paced, energetic visual style of the film while maintaining a cohesive brand identity for Coca-Cola.

In professional filmmaking, music and sound design are often the elements that bridge the gap between a student project and a commercial-grade production. The Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program provides finalists with mentorship from CineVantage for sound design and music, as well as color grading services from Company 3. Kraus’s ability to excel within this professional framework demonstrates the high level of technical proficiency cultivated within the university’s music programs.

Chronology of the 2026 Competition Cycle

The path to the 2026 sweep began in late 2025 with the initial script call. The timeline of the competition reflects the fast-paced nature of the commercial film industry:

1. Script Submission (Late 2025): Students from participating universities submitted hundreds of scripts based on the year’s theme of "Movie Magic."
2. Finalist Selection (Early 2026): Coca-Cola and its partners selected three scripts to move into production. Full Sail secured two of these spots.
3. Pre-Production (February – March 2026): Teams engaged in budgeting, casting, and logistics. This phase included brand approval meetings where students had to defend their creative choices to Coca-Cola executives.
4. Production (April 2026): Filming took place over several days, utilizing both university facilities and partner theater locations.
5. Post-Production (May 2026): Editing, color grading, and sound mixing were completed under the guidance of industry mentors.
6. Public Voting and Panel Review (June 2026): The films were released online and in theaters for public voting, while the Red Ribbon Panel conducted its formal evaluation.
7. Awards Announcement (July 2026): Full Sail University was officially announced as the winner of the Grand Prize, Fan Favorite, and Best Music Composition awards.

Supporting Infrastructure and Partnerships

The success of these productions was supported by an ecosystem of industry partners. Technical equipment was provided by Red and Nikon, ensuring that the student teams were working with cinema-grade cameras and lenses. This exposure to high-end gear is a cornerstone of the Refreshing Films program, aiming to prepare students for the technical standards of modern sets.

Industry exhibition partners, including AMC, B&B, and Cinemark Theatres, played a dual role. They provided physical locations for filming—often requiring the students to manage the logistics of overnight shoots in active commercial spaces—and served as the primary distribution network. Winning films are historically screened in theaters nationwide, providing the student filmmakers with a level of exposure that is rare at the collegiate level.

Impact and Educational Implications

The results of the 2026 competition underscore a significant trend in film education: the move toward integrated, branded content. Approximately 80 to 90 percent of the crews for both Full Sail films consisted of current students or recent graduates. This provided nearly 100 individuals with hands-on experience in a production that required adherence to strict corporate brand guidelines, insurance requirements, and professional workflows.

Katie Pryor, Program Manager for Coca-Cola Refreshing Films, noted that the facilities at Full Sail provided a "safety net" that allowed for high-level experimentation. The ability of students to access a $3 million virtual production studio and faculty mentors across multiple disciplines—from 3D modeling to music theory—was a decisive factor in the quality of the final submissions.

Broader Industry Context

The dominance of a single institution in such a competitive national program is rare and suggests a highly effective alignment between curriculum and industry needs. As the film industry increasingly relies on branded entertainment and short-form digital content, the skills honed during the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program—concise storytelling, technical precision, and brand management—are becoming more valuable than traditional long-form narrative skills alone.

For the winners, the implications are immediate. Grand Prize winners often find their work serving as a significant portfolio piece that leads to professional representation or commercial directing opportunities. The recognition from major brands like Coca-Cola and theater chains like Cinemark provides a level of professional validation that can take years to achieve in the traditional independent film circuit.

As the 2026 cycle concludes, the success of Behind the Screens and What Makes Them Magic stands as a benchmark for student filmmaking, illustrating the potential of collegiate programs when paired with significant corporate partnerships and state-of-the-art technology.