Full Sail University Sweeps the 2026 Coca-Cola Refreshing Films Program in a Historic Victory for Student Filmmakers

ORLANDO, Fla. — In a landmark triumph for collegiate filmmaking, Full Sail University completely dominated the 2026 Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program, capturing the highest honors in the prestigious nationwide competition. Out of a vast pool of collegiate entries, only three short films advanced to the ultimate round of production—and Full Sail teams secured two of those coveted spots, ultimately sweeping the contest’s top awards.

The university’s clean sweep includes the Red Ribbon Panel Grand Prize Award, won by the graduate team for their imaginative short Behind the Screens; the Cinemark Fan Favorite Award, voted to the undergraduate team for What Makes Them Magic by enthusiastic audiences nationwide; and the Best Music Composition honor, awarded to Full Sail Lab instructor and Music Production alumnus Kevin Kraus for his evocative score on Behind the Screens.

This unprecedented clean sweep underscores not only the exceptional creative and technical caliber of Full Sail’s student body, but also the effectiveness of the institution’s immersive, industry-aligned educational model.

Main Facts: A Clean Sweep at the National Level

The Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program, established in 1998, is a premier national competition that bridges the gap between academia and the professional film industry. It challenges current students and recent graduates from participating U.S. film schools to craft original scripts celebrating the magic of the moviegoing experience alongside the iconic brand.

For the 2026 cycle, Full Sail University’s representatives demonstrated absolute mastery across all facets of short-form filmmaking:

Grand Prize Excellence: The graduate team’s Behind the Screens secured the coveted Red Ribbon Panel Grand Prize Award, impressing a panel of seasoned industry judges with its scope, energy, and technical ambition.
Audience Choice: The undergraduate team’s What Makes Them Magic captured the hearts of moviegoers across the country, earning the Cinemark Fan Favorite title through a nationwide public vote.
Musical Mastery: Full Sail Lab instructor Kevin Kraus added to the university’s tally by securing the Best Music Composition Award for his vital contributions to Behind the Screens.
Unprecedented Industry Integration: Approximately 80% to 90% of the cast and crew positions across both productions were filled by Full Sail students and graduates, turning a national competition into a massive, hands-on masterclass in professional production workflows.

Chronology: From Script Submissions to the Silver Screen

The journey to the 2026 winner’s podium was a rigorous months-long endeavor that tested the endurance, resilience, and adaptability of every student involved.

Phase 1: Script Development and Selection

The competition began with student screenwriters submitting original concepts that met strict thematic guidelines established by contest organizers. Scripts had to creatively incorporate the cinematic experience and the presence of Coca-Cola without feeling like overt, heavy-handed commercials. Following rigorous national evaluations, the field was narrowed down to just three finalist scripts, two of which originated from Full Sail University writers.

Phase 2: Pre-Production and Industry Standards

Once greenlit, the student teams transitioned from script development to professional pre-production. Unlike typical student film projects, the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program subjects participants to real-world industry hurdles. Teams had to navigate complex logistics, including:

Strict budgeting and financial allocations.
Insurance requirements and legal clearances.
Professional casting sessions.
Multiple rounds of script revisions and network brand approvals.

Throughout this phase, students received invaluable guidance from industry mentors, ensuring their productions adhered strictly to Hollywood standards.

Phase 3: Principal Photography and Cutting-Edge Tech

Principal photography took place in early 2026. The student crews utilized high-end facilities, including Full Sail’s state-of-the-art $3 million virtual production studio, Studio V1. Utilizing cutting-edge LED volumes, the teams blended physical sets with real-time digital environments.

On-location shooting was made possible through major exhibition partners. What Makes Them Magic utilized AMC Altamonte Springs, while Behind the Screens filmed portions at Cinemark Orlando and XD. Technical partners Red and Nikon provided professional cinema cameras and cine-lenses for both primary units and behind-the-scenes documentary crews, ensuring pristine image capture.

Phase 4: Post-Production and Mentorship

In post-production, the collaborative nature of the program shone through. The teams received specialized music-composition and sound-design mentorship from CineVantage. Meanwhile, industry powerhouse Company 3 provided professional color grading, elevating the visual fidelity of both shorts to theatrical exhibition standards.

Phase 5: Exhibition and National Triumphs

Once completed, the films were distributed across major theatrical chains nationwide—including AMC, B&B, and Cinemark locations—giving millions of moviegoers the chance to view them on the big screen before feature presentations. The exhibition run culminated in nationwide public voting for the Fan Favorite award and final deliberations by the Red Ribbon Panel, ultimately leading to Full Sail’s historic sweep.

Supporting Data and Production Profiles

Behind the awards are two distinct, ambitious short films that showcase contrasting creative visions unified by high production values.

Undergraduates Capture Hearts: What Makes Them Magic

Key Creators: Written and directed by Brandon Bishop; produced by Christina Almuina (both current Full Sail Film undergraduates).
The Premise: A heartfelt exploration of how cinema alters human perspective. Set inside a classic movie theater, the narrative follows various audience members whose lives are fundamentally changed by what they witness on screen—from a father visualizing his daughter’s future wedding day to a graduate drawing inner strength from a gladiator epic.
The Production: Shot inside Studio V1 and on location at AMC Altamonte Springs. The crew drew heavily from Full Sail’s broader student body, integrating talent from 3D arts, virtual production, and audio engineering programs.
The Accolade: Voted Cinemark Fan Favorite by nationwide audiences.

"One of the only art forms that you go spend two hours in is a movie, and then you make a fundamental life change after that because you saw something that moved you," reflects writer and director Brandon Bishop. "That’s really great, beautiful, and magical."

Graduates Build a Cinematic Universe: Behind the Screens

Key Creators: Written and directed by Angel Quinapallo; produced by Kylie Shouse (both recent Full Sail Film graduates).
The Premise: An energetic, visually dense fantasy exploring the hidden world behind the theater screen. The narrative imagines a bustling backstage realm where the collective history of cinema lives on to continuously generate movie magic.
The Production: Incredibly ambitious in scope, the production required dozens of students, graduates, and faculty members to custom-build physical props—including a full-scale T-Rex tail—and design elaborate costumes representing various eras of film history. Filming utilized Studio V1’s virtual production volume and Cinemark Orlando and XD locations.
The Accolade: Winner of the Red Ribbon Panel Grand Prize Award, bolstered by Kevin Kraus’s award-winning musical score.

"This script just crackles with energy and captures the creativity and controlled chaos that happens behind the scenes when creating movie magic," notes producer Kylie Shouse. "It mirrors all the work that we as student filmmakers experience to create these 60 seconds of branded content."

Official Responses and Industry Praise

The immense success of Full Sail University’s participants did not go unnoticed by program organizers and institutional leaders, who praised the unique synergy between academic training and real-world brand partnerships.

Katie Pryor, Program Manager for Coca-Cola Refreshing Films, has spent nearly eight years overseeing the initiative. She expressed profound admiration for Full Sail’s infrastructure and the caliber of talent it produces.

"I think the facilities here at Full Sail are really, really mind-blowing," Pryor stated during a campus visit. "The resources and opportunities that Full Sail provides to their students are phenomenal. This program is a great opportunity for students to get that branded filmmaking experience while they still have the safety net and the resources of the school."

For the student creators and faculty members, the recognition validates years of rigorous training. Kevin Kraus, whose musical composition for Behind the Screens earned him top honors as an alumnus and lab instructor, described the journey as a profound labor of love.

"It’s incredibly gratifying to get an award for something that I’ve put so much time and work into," Kraus said. "This whole project has been an absolute labor of love."

Implications: The Future of Branded Entertainment and Film Education

Full Sail University’s dominant showing in the 2026 Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program signals a broader evolution in how modern film schools prepare students for the contemporary entertainment landscape.

As traditional boundaries between independent cinema, commercial advertising, and advanced technology continue to blur, initiatives like the Refreshing Films program provide an essential stepping stone. By placing college students in direct contact with major corporate stakeholders—such as Coca-Cola, AMC, Cinemark, Red, Nikon, and Company 3—programs of this caliber demystify the corporate and logistical realities of the film industry.

Furthermore, the integration of cutting-edge resources like virtual production (Studio V1) into student workflows proves that academic institutions can rival professional production houses in technological readiness. For the 80 to 90 percent of students who populated the crews of What Makes Them Magic and Behind the Screens, this victory is more than just a line on a resume; it is a profound validation of their readiness to enter the professional arena.

As these young filmmakers step forward into the industry, the lessons learned navigating network notes, union-adjacent budgeting, high-end virtual stages, and national theatrical distribution will undoubtedly shape the next generation of storytelling, ensuring that the magic of the movies continues to thrive on screens both big and small.