It’s showtime! Today, Sprite Films™ pulls back the curtain to
reveal the winning short films created by student filmmakers who
showcase bold creativity and a relentless passion to tell stories
through film.
Fan Favorite Award Winner – “See Your Dreams”
Olivia
Riley Day, director
Akmyrat Tuyliyev, producer
Savannah
College of Art and Design (SCAD)
The six finalist short films of the 2014 Sprite Films program
were featured online at Sprite.com/films
for America to view and vote for their favorite film during the voting
period. The votes have been tallied and “See Your Dreams” is America’s
favorite. Olivia Riley Day from Dacula, Ga. has won a $5,000 donation
from Sprite to the film department at Savannah College of Art and
Design. In addition, Sprite will send Day on a special trip to
attend AFI FEST 2014, the American Film Institute’s (AFI) film festival
in Los Angeles.
Day’s win marks a first for SCAD, which has participated in the program
since its inception in 1998 when it was known as the Coca-Cola
Refreshing Filmmaker’s Award.
“Our team came together to create our short film from script to screen
and I am very proud of the work we accomplished together,” said Day. “I
hope we showed everyone what SCAD is capable of in the world of film.
It’s so great to know that America enjoyed watching our film and we’re
grateful for the opportunity to participate in this year’s Sprite Films
program. It’s also satisfying to know people enjoy watching my
passion unfold in a film I directed!”
Green Ribbon Panel Award Winner – “What We Need”
Merlin
Camozzi, director
Richard Perry, producer
UCLA
School of Theater, Film and Television
The Green Ribbon Panel of film industry and corporate professionals,
including actor Michael B. Jordan, critiqued the technical aspects of
the six short films and selected “What We Need” for the first place
award in the 2014 Sprite Films program. Merlin Camozzi from
Eugene, Ore. has won an opportunity to work on a Sprite brand
project with an agency affiliated with The Coca-Cola Company.
Additionally, Camozzi will see his short film debut in select theaters
across the country in August 2014.
"Being a Sprite Films finalist has been an amazing
experience,” said Camozzi. “From receiving production support from the
brand, to meeting with our Sprite Films mentor, Michael B.
Jordan, to getting to premier our films at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Sprite
Films has provided an incredible platform to advance our craft
and share our work on a national level. Being selected as the top film
this year by the Green Ribbon Panel is a real honor, and I am beyond
excited to see our project hit theaters later this summer."
Student filmmakers from 23 participating colleges and universities
across the United States submitted scripts to the 2014 Sprite Films
program. The films were inspired by an aspect of urban culture and
delivered a unique story from their individual point of views. In
August, the Sprite Films program will be promoted in select movie
theaters nationwide and featured on promotional materials such as
branded cups, popcorn bags and theatre displays.
“Each year, we partner with prestigious film schools to showcase
refreshingly talented filmmakers who are the future of the film
industry. The competition was intense between the participants, and
their passionate pursuit of self-expression is demonstrated in their
films,” said Kimberly Paige, associate vice president, Sprite Brands,
Coca-Cola North America. “We applaud the winners as well as the
finalists, and we cannot wait to see what they do next.”
In addition to the opportunity to develop a short film from script to
screen, the students were introduced to actor Michael B. Jordan who
served as their mentor and program ambassador. He met the students and
shared his personal advice on working in the film industry.
“I have worked with multiple first-time directors and producers – many
of whom made my career as an actor – and it is important to me to give
back and support emerging filmmakers,” said Jordan. “I hope the advice I
shared with the talented 2014 Sprite Films filmmakers based on my
own experiences will fuel them to follow their individual dreams in the
film industry.”
Instagram Film Contest
Beginning July 15, Sprite Films will launch a first-time call for
non-student filmmakers to participate in a short film submission contest
via Instagram. The open call will provide an opportunity for consumers
to upload films showcasing visual examples of unique self-expression.
Youth from across the United States will have the opportunity to
participate in Sprite Films through this inaugural online
program, and Sprite will spotlight select participants on its
social media channels. Visit Sprite.com/films for more information on
how to enter the contest.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The
Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage
company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands.
Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable
brands, our Company's portfolio features 17 billion-dollar brands
including Diet
Coke, Fanta,
Sprite,
Coca-Cola
Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade,
Minute
Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del
Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages,
ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world's
largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200
countries enjoy our beverages
at a rate of 1.9 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to
building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives
that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy
living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our
associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities
where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the
world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system
associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola
Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com,
follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo,
visit our blog, Coca-Cola
Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com
or find us on LinkedIn.
Copyright Business Wire 2014