Sprite Films™ Returns to Ignite Creativity in Aspiring Filmmakers

Nationwide Program Selects Talented Film Students to Produce Original Short Films;
Finalists to Compete for a $30,000 Contract Job with Sprite and The Coca-Cola Company

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The stage is set: Sprite Films™ returns to showcase the talents of the nation’s next generation of up-and-coming filmmakers. Five creative minds with bold imagination and innovative talent have been selected by Sprite® to participate in a nationwide film competition with a unique opportunity to obtain valuable on-the-job experience and to showcase their filmmaking abilities. New to the program this year is the ultimate prize – the opportunity to work on a $30,000 contract job for Sprite and The Coca-Cola Company.

The winning scripts will be produced by four finalist teams into individual sixty-second spots and then viewed and judged by a Green Ribbon Panel – a group of industry experts who will critique the technical aspects of the films.

The finalists will attend CinemaCon, the gathering of the motion picture theatre industry, April 16-19, 2013 in Las Vegas. The student filmmakers will attend workshops and meet one-on-one with well-known film directors to discuss their film projects and future plans in the film industry. The filmmakers are a diverse group of students from colleges and universities across the United States:

• Columbia College Chicago
  • Sam Bengtson and Sean Grasse
• Elon University
  • Dean Coots and Michael Tahan
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
  • Noah Sterling and Megan Melrose
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
  • Manhea Kim and Meja Shoba

“Sprite Films is once again sharing a nationwide platform for skilled filmmakers to showcase their talents and for the rare chance to work alongside us at Sprite and The Coca-Cola Company on a creative contract assignment,” said Kimberly Paige, Associate Vice President, Sprite. “The four winning scripts creatively brought to life an aspect of urban culture that shaped a short story boldly told from the filmmakers’ authentic point-of-view. The finalists show great potential for a bright future in the world of film and fans will have the chance to view their Sprite Films sixty-second shorts on Sprite.com in August 2013.”

Sprite Films will spotlight the program in movie theaters across the country for one month this summer, including consumer-facing promotional materials such as branded cups, popcorn bags and theatre displays.

The History of Sprite Films

The Sprite Films program was formerly the Coca-Cola® Refreshing Filmmaker’s™ Award, which was presented annually by Coca-Cola beginning in 1998. The program has continued through the Sprite brand for the past three years and will move forward to engage youth nationwide with real-life challenging opportunities to leverage their talents, ignite fresh thinking and realize their potential for greatness behind the camera and beyond.

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, the world's most valuable brand, our Company's portfolio features 16 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 1.8 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 www.thecoca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo or check out our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com.

The Coca-Cola Company
Kerry Tressler, +01-404-676-3676
ketressler@coca-cola.com
or
Rogers & Cowan
Tara Moore
tmoore@rogersandcowan.com

Source: The Coca-Cola Company

Released April 18, 2013