2023-2024 Coca‑Cola Refreshing Films Contest

Program Overview: The 2023-2024 Coca‑Cola® Refreshing Films Contest is a film competition that is open to “Teams” of qualified students and recent graduates of select colleges and universities. Each Team must be comprised of 2 current students/recent eligible graduates who will have the opportunity to enter a script (each a "Script") for a 50-second pre-feature film ("Film"). A panel of judges will select up to 4 Scripts and will give the 4 finalist teams ("Finalist Team") the opportunity to produce a Film based on their Script. The Grand Prize-winning team, as determined by the Sponsor’s judging panel, will have their Film screened in the United States and Canada at select cinema locations. Sponsor will also host a public vote to select the “Fan Favorite” amongst the Finalist Teams; the Finalist Team which receives the most votes will receive a prize of $5000 USD, to be shared equally among Team members. The Coca‑Cola Refreshing Films Program is open to qualified filmmaking students without regard to race, color, disability, religion, sexual orientation, age, nationality or ethnicity or status in any group protected by federal, state, or local laws. The Coca‑Cola Refreshing Films Program does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, disability, religion, sexual orientation, age, nationality or ethnic origin or status in any group protected by federal, provincial, state, or local laws, in administration of its program and activities.

1. Eligibility: The Coca‑Cola Refreshing Films Contest (the "Contest") is open only to Teams of two (2) where each member of the team is currently residing in the United States or Canada (excluding the Province of Quebec) who meet all of the following additional eligibility requirements:

(a) Each Team member is a full time or part time current undergraduate or graduate student, or a person who graduated no earlier than May 2022 from one the schools (each a "School”) listed below. Each Team member must be in good standing with their School. At least one member of the Team must be part of the Film or Animation / VFX Program;

(b) Team members must be at least 18 years of age and have legal authorization and documentation to prove such authorization to work in the U.S. (if attending a School in the U.S) or authorization to work in Canada (if attending a School in Canada) for the entire period of the Contest (as defined in Section 4 below). Students who are not citizens of the country where they are attending a School must have a visa valid in the U.S. or Canada that authorizes that they can work in the applicable country in order to be eligible to participate. If a student’s participation violates the terms of the student’s visa, Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify the student’s Script, Film, and/or Team (as defined in Section 5 below) from this Contest. At least one (1) member of any Team from a U.S. School must be a permanent legal U. S. resident and have a valid U.S. Social Security Number;

(c) One member of the Team must be designated as the producer and the other Team member can be designated in any other key crew role.

Once Teams are registered and confirmed to be eligible to participate, any personal information that a Team provided will be removed from the data saved and associated with the Team.  No individuals that are part of the administration or judging of this Contest will have access to this information about a Team, except for purposes of administering the background checks and fulfilling the Finalist prizes or otherwise as required by applicable law.

Participating Schools:

1. AFI
2. Arizona State University
3. Biola University
4. Boise State University
5. Bowie State University 
6. Bowling Green State University 
7. Brigham Young University
8. California State University-Los Angeles
9. Chapman University
10. Columbia College Chicago
11. Dillard University
12. Elon University
13. Florida State University
14. Full Sail
15. George Mason University 
16. Georgia State University 
17. Georgia Tech 
18. Hussian College LA 
19. Indiana University
20. Iona College
21. Ithaca College
22. LA FILM SCHOOL
23. Loyola Marymount University
24. Montclair State University 
25. Morehouse College
26. New York Film Academy - NYC
27. New York Film Academy - Los Angeles
28. New York Film Academy-South Beach 
29. Notre Dame
30. Pace University
31. Ringling College of Art and Design
32. Rochester Institute of Technology
33. Savannah College of Art and Design (Atlanta)
34. Savannah College of Art and Design (Savannah)
35. School of Visual Arts
36. Temple University
37. The New School
38. UCLA
39. USC
40. University of Miami (FL)
41. University of West Georgia
42. University of Central Florida
43. University of Georgia 
44. University of Nevada, Las Vegas
45. University of New Orleans
46. University of North Carolina School of the Arts 
47. University of Texas (Austin)
48. Western Kentucky University 
49. Woodbury University
50. Algonquin College
51. British Columbia School of Technology (BCIT) 
52. Capilano University 
53. Centennial College
54. Fanshawe College
55. George Brown College
56. Humber College OTC
57. Mohawk College
58. Mount Royal University 
59. Seneca College 
60. Toronto Metropolitan University 

Each School listed above may have additional eligibility restrictions or limitations regarding who can participate.

A Team will be disqualified if it engages in or is discovered to have engaged in Prohibited Behavior. “Prohibited Behavior” means any action or statement by a Team member that reflects unfavorably upon any of the Released Parties (defined in Section 10, below) or the Contest, that puts the Contest in poor standing, that is deemed by Sponsor to be unsportsmanlike conduct, impugns the reputation of others, or that reduces the commercial value of the Released Parties’ association with the Team member. In addition, all program communications, including emails to and from the agency production coach are internal only and are not to be shared on social media or in any other manner. If, in the sole discretion of Sponsor, a Team or Team member engages in Prohibited Behavior, Sponsor may take any action it deems appropriate up to and including disqualification from the Contest. 

Current employees and non-employee workers of The Coca‑Cola Company, Coca‑Cola Ltd., Coca‑Cola bottlers, Merkle Inc., (herein “Contest Entities”) and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, and agents, and any agencies or other companies involved in the development or execution of the Contest or production or distribution of Contest materials, as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and household members of each such person are not eligible. The Contest is subject to all applicable laws and regulations and is void where prohibited by law. 

2. Sponsor: The Coca‑Cola Company, One Coca‑Cola Plaza, Atlanta, GA 30313. Administrator: Merkle Inc., 3000 Town Center, Suite 2100, Southfield, MI 48075.

3. Agreement to Official Rules: Participation in this Contest constitutes each Team member’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules, as well as any other documentation provided to Team members by the Sponsor (the “Documentation”), and that Sponsor’s and Administrator’s decisions are final and binding in all matters related to this Contest. Team members are not entitled to review scores of its Contest Submissions or any other Team’s Submissions. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein and in the Documentation, including consent to a confidential background check to confirm each potential winner’s eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules. Failure to consent to the background check and/or to provide the information and documents required to conduct it, including a social security number (for entrants who are residents of the United States) or a social insurance number (for entrants who are residents of Canada) or other identifying information will result in disqualification. Due to the nature of the prize offered, if a background check reveals that a potential winner has engaged in conduct that could damage the reputation of or reflect unfavorably on Sponsor or any of the Released Parties, as determined by Sponsor in its discretion, the potential winner may be disqualified. To the extent any conflicts arise between these Official Rules and the Documentation, the Official Rules will govern.

4. Timing: The Contest begins on August 29, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. United States Eastern Time ("ET"), the initial Script Submission is due on October 10, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. ET, and the final Film Submission (only relevant for the 4 Finalist Teams) is due on March 26, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

The 4 Finalist Teams will be announced on or about November 22, 2023. The Contest consists of several phases as outlined in the chart below. All dates after the Finalist Notification dates are subject to change, in the Sponsor’s sole discretion.

Sponsor's computer is the official time-keeping device for this Contest.

5. How to Enter: During the Script Submission Phase, each Team will be provided with materials from their School about the requirements of this Contest, including a program brief (the “Program Brief”), these Official Rules, budget template, program signature page, and contact information. The Program Brief will describe the target audience and content theme of the film.

Complete Online Application Form and Email Submission Materials: Using the information described above, one Team member will complete the online application form (“Application”) and will be prompted to email the Team’s Script, a proposed budget (the “Budget”) and a signature page signed by Team Members and Team Members’ School’s key faculty confirming that Team Members meet the eligibility requirements of the Contest (the “Signature Page”) WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF SUBMITTING THE ONLINE APPLICATION to info@cocacolarefreshingfilms.com. The Application, Script, Budget and Signature Page will be referred to in these rules as the submission ("Submission").  Teams may optionally submit the following additional materials:  a storyboard, a pitch deck that highlights the vibe of their concepts and a proof of concept (collectively Optional Additional Materials”). These Optional Additional Materials will not be considered by the judging panel when determining which Teams are selected as Semi-Finalists.

Teams may only submit 1 Script with each Application. However, students are encouraged to submit multiple Applications into the Contest (each with a unique Script and corresponding submission materials “Budget” and “Signature Page”). A student may participate on more than 1 Team. There is no limit to the number of Applications/Submissions that an eligible student can make. Teams are permitted to consult with their School administrators. Team members may not be allowed to use School's equipment or facilities to produce the Script without first satisfying the applicable School's requirements for doing so. If a student has not taken the necessary course prerequisites, the student may want to form a Team with someone with the appropriate access to the equipment and facilities.  

See additional Script & Budget Requirements and Content Restrictions in bulleted sections below. Both Team members must be identified on the Application or the Team will be disqualified. Only Team members identified on the Application will be eligible for any prize in this Contest. Submissions must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on October 10, 2023. Once the Application is processed, the Team member who submitted it will receive an email confirmation to confirm that Application has been received. It can take up to 5 days to receive an email confirmation. If that 5-day window has passed, students can send an email to info@cocacolarefreshingfilms.com and request confirmation of receipt. All Submissions become the exclusive property of Sponsor and none will be returned. Proof of sending or submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, illegible, misdirected, which will be disqualified.  

By emailing a Submission, you agree that it conforms to the Script & Budget Requirements and Script & Film Content Restrictions as defined below and that Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may disqualify you from the Contest if it believes your Submission fails to conform to the Script & Budget Requirements and Script & Film Content Restrictions or does not meet any other criteria stated elsewhere in these Official Rules.

Script & Budget Technical Requirements:

• Script must be in English;
• Script must be the length appropriate for a 20-second Film (ONE page or less);
• Script must NOT contain a title page. Rather, the title should be listed at the top of the Script;
• Script must NOT display the names of the Team members, or the name of the School on the Script;
• Script must be saved and submitted as a .pdf;
• Budgets must be submitted using the Budget template provided;
• Budgets must demonstrate that the Team is able to create and produce a Film and document the Film development with their behind-the-scenes crew (the “BTS Content”) for no more than $20,000 USD (or approximately $26,800 CAD, subject to currency conversion rates at the time prize is fulfilled). Finalists are not permitted to spend their own money to pay for the appropriate crew and/or necessary equipment or other resources needed to complete Film production; Finalists may use in-kind resources or equipment offered by their School.
• Budgets must demonstrate that the Script will be filmed and produced safely, consistent with safety guidelines set by each college/University and applicable laws; and
• Name and save ALL of your documents using your Script title. Example: “BreakTheNight_Budget” and “BreakTheNight_Script”.

 

Script & Film Content Restrictions:

• Script/Film must the original work of the Team. Team must not use any generative AI in any way (including but not limited to generating concepts, any aspect of the Script or any visual component of the proposed Film);
• Except for the limited license to use Sponsor’s brand names and trademarks granted by Sponsor (and described below), you may not submit a Script in which any person other than yourself or the other member of your Team owns any rights (including, but not limited to, rights as joint owner or joint author). Your Script may not be based in whole or in part on the work of any other person (including without limitation, any other fictional or non-fictional material, published or unpublished, produced or unproduced), unless it qualifies as a legitimate parody under U.S. or Canadian copyright law. If you have adapted your Script, or any part of it, from another original work(s) created solely by you or by the other member of your Team, you must prominently disclose that fact when you submit the Script. If the judges, in their sole discretion, determine that 2 or more Scripts are substantially similar to one another, all such Scripts will be disqualified. In addition, the judges will disqualify any Script where, in their sole discretion, they determine it is not completely original;
• Script/Film must not contain any elements that would violate third-party rights if used in a commercial film. Teams may not obtain the right to use these materials by license, permit, consent, or otherwise. CAUTION: This means, among other things, that your Script may be disqualified if it contains, or suggests that the Film will contain, such things as:
  • Trademarks owned by others, including consumer brands. All props and venues must be generic;
  • Copyrighted materials owned by others (including dialogue from existing movies, musical compositions, and sound recordings), unless the use would constitute a legitimate fair use parody under U.S. or Canadian copyright law. Important Note: The judges, in consultation with their legal advisers, will make this fair use/parody determination in their sole discretion. Therefore, you should understand that your attempt to create a parody could result in the disqualification of your Script;
  • Accordingly, Film must use original music that is acceptable for use in Canada and the United States. Students may not license any music;
  • The names, likenesses, voices, or other indicia identifying celebrities and other public figures, living or dead, or look-alikes or sound-alikes of celebrities or other public figures, living or dead;
• However, Teams have a limited license to use The Coca‑Cola Company’s or Coca‑Cola Ltd’s. non-alcoholic brand names and trademarks to create and submit material for this Contest only. NOTE: Coca‑Cola products (bottle, aluminum can or cup) may NOT be animated to have “human” characteristics.
• Script/Film must not include any beverages other than The Coca‑Cola Company’s Non-Alcoholic beverages;
• Script/Film must not convey any claims about Sponsor’s products that would be deemed unsubstantiated or deceptive if made by Sponsor. For example, Script may not imply any claims that Sponsor’s products lead to supernatural powers;
• Script/Film must include some filming located at a movie theater;
• All characters included in the Script/Film must be 15 years or older and must look age appropriate."
• Script/Film must respect the roles of parents and caregivers by NOT marketing to children under 15 years of age. Keep this in mind if you plan to include animated characters.
• Script/Film must not include cartoon-like animation UNLESS the animation appears realistic so not to appear as though the Film is being marketed to children. Retro-styled animations that might be aimed at an older target audience should NOT be used;
• Script/Film must not include any live animals;
• Script/Film must not contain material that Sponsor deems to promote bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or to promote discrimination based on race, sex, gender, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation or age;
• Script/Film must not contain material that Sponsor deems (or promote activities which are) indecent, vulgar, obscene, offensive, sexually explicit or suggestive, pornographic, violent (e.g., relating to murder, weapons, cruelty, abuse, or terrorism etc.), illegal (e.g. underage drinking, substance abuse, computer hacking, etc.), threatening, profane, harassing, defamatory, or libelous:
• Script/Film must not disparage, ridicule, denigrate, or embarrass The Coca‑Cola Company, Contest Entities, Released Parties (defined below) or their employees, products, or services; and
• Script/Film must not contain material that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to the laws or regulations of both the United States and Canada.

Teams confirm agreement that their use of Sponsor’s logos is subject to the Sponsor’s grant of a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, royalty-free license to use Sponsor’s logos (the “Limited License”) provided solely for purposes specifically indicated in these Official Rules. If your Script is not selected as one of the Finalist Teams, your Limited License expires and you may not use any permitted logo, name, trademark or any other branding depicted in your Script except for purposes of seeking employment and/or with prior written permission from the Sponsor. You may choose to use your Script with all such references completely redacted.  

Notwithstanding any of the above, the Sponsors, their subsidiaries, affiliates, joint ventures, distributors and bottlers also have the right to the unlimited use in perpetuity of the Script if any, for historical, archival, and/or documentary purposes in any public facility or any event owned or operated by Sponsor, such as the World of Coca‑Cola Museum and traveling versions thereof.  

Any attempt by any Team member to enter using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations, or any other methods will disqualify that Team's Submission and that Team or Team member may be disqualified from this Contest and any of the Sponsor's other promotions. However, a Team member may enter more than one Script, if desired. The Released Parties (as defined in Section 10, below) are not responsible for lost, late, stolen, damaged, corrupt, incomplete, invalid, un-intelligible, garbled, delayed or misdirected Scripts, all of which will be void.  In the event of a dispute as to the identity of an entrant, Sponsor and Administrator will rely on the information submitted by the entrant to register for this Contest. If any additional information provided by entrant is inconsistent with the information provided at registration, Sponsor and/or Administrator may disqualify such entrant and the Team from further participation in the Contest.

6. Finalist Determination, Notification, and Requirements: The winning Teams will be determined through 3 separate judging phases as follows.

I. Determination of Semi-Finalist Teams

At the conclusion of the Script Submission Phase, a panel of qualified judges, selected by Sponsor in its sole discretion, will judge the Application, Budget, and Scripts and will select 15 Semi-Finalist Teams (“Semi-Finalist Teams”) (there may be more than one per School) based on the following Judging Criteria ("Judging Criteria"). Qualified judges will only receive Submissions, and are not provided any information about the entrants:

• Creativity (20%);
  • Overall quality of script and storyline
  • Creativity and originality
  • Ability to effectively tell a compelling story
• Creative Fit to Theme and Tone (30%);
  • Does the storyline successfully answer the elements in the Program Brief?
  • Does the concept represent/reflect the Coca‑Cola brand?
• Entertainment Factor (30%)
  • Does the story provide a new, untold perspective?
  • Is the story entertaining?
  • Is it engaging to the target audience?
• Competence & Experience of the Team to produce a film (20%)
  • Willingness to be mentored
  • Receptive to feedback
  • Overall film experience
  • Budget Accuracy

The Teams who submitted the 15 highest-scoring Submissions, subject to the tie-breaking procedure described below, will be the potential Semi-Finalist Teams and will be required to consent to a confidential background check in order to proceed in the Contest. In the event of an exact tie between 2 or more Submissions, the Team whose Script received the highest score for Creativity will be deemed the potential Semi-Finalist Team.   

Failure to consent to the background check and/or to provide the specific information required to conduct it, including a social security number (for entrants who are residents of the United States) or a social insurance number (for entrants who are residents of Canada) or other identifying information will result in disqualification. Due to the nature of the Contest and prize offered, if a background check reveals that a member of a Semi-Finalist Team has engaged in conduct that could damage the reputation of or reflect unfavorably on Sponsor or any of the Released Parties, as determined by Sponsor in its discretion, the Semi-Finalist Team may be disqualified.

Each of the Semi-Finalist Teams will have approximately one week to work with Sponsor and partners to refine and revise their Script and provide additional content such as storyboards, look books or animatics as needed. These revised Scripts and additional content must be submitted by November 5, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. ET. 

II. Determination of Finalists

After the revised Scripts are submitted, a panel of qualified judges, selected by Sponsor in its sole discretion, will judge the Scripts and will select up to 4 Finalist Teams (there may be more than one per School) who receive the highest scores based on Judging Criteria listed above. In the event of an exact tie between 2 or more Submissions, the Team whose revised Script received the highest score for Creativity will be deemed the winner of the tie. Each Finalist Team will work with Sponsor and partners to refine, develop, and edit the Script once more and then will submit a revised Script to Sponsor for final approval via the method specified in the handbook. Once approved, the Script is locked and may not be changed. 

Finalist Team Requirements: The potential Finalist Teams will be notified on or around November 22, 2023 by email. Each potential Finalist Team member (or parent/legal guardian if winner is a minor in finalist’s state of residence) will be required to sign and return a Declaration of Compliance, Liability and Publicity Release ("Declaration") (along with any other forms deemed necessary by Sponsor, including, but not limited to, a limited license to use Sponsors' trademarks), including consent to agree to a further confidential background check, which must be received by Administrator within 2 calendar days of the date notice or attempted notice is sent, in order to claim finalist’s place as a Finalist Team member and the applicable prize.

Each Finalist Team will be required to confirm agreement to the following:

(A) Each Finalist Team must document their film development with a behind-the-scenes crew to create the BTS Content. Total running time of BTS Content to be between 60 and 90 seconds. All deadlines and details regarding the BTS Content will be outlined in the filmmaker handbook (provided to all Finalists). Some or all BTS content may, but is not required to, be shared on Sponsor’s digital platforms, with Sponsor theater media partners, or in other manners in Sponsor’s sole discretion. Each Finalist Team must also add a social-media manager to their Team.

(B). Each Finalist Team owns the intellectual property for their script and film. However, Coca‑Cola retains the rights of trademarks, trade names, logos and additional intellectual property of their brands. Accordingly, Finalists may only use the film for career development purposes.

(C) Each Finalist Team must retain proper chain of title for their film:

i. Finalists must ensure that all production releases include a statement that reflects the above ownership of intellectual property.

ii. Finalists must ensure all rights include usage for the United States and Canadian distribution.

iii. Finalists may use the non-performer and performer release documents provided by Sponsor.

(D). For a four-year period beginning May 16, 2024 Coca‑Cola shall have an exclusive license to use the film. After the license expires, Coca‑Cola may extend the period for an additional four years at a predetermined one-time payment of $1,000 USD which shall be paid as consideration for extension of the exclusive license to Coca‑Cola for an additional four-year period. If the license is extended to a Canadian filmmaker then this rate would be subject to the conversion rate at that time.

(E) The Coca‑Cola Company and its affiliated companies may use the Film in all locations of its World of Coca‑Cola museum and for other internal purposes perpetually, without limitation as to time. The Film may remain on the Sponsor’s website, social media, and YouTube indefinitely, without further payment.

(F) If requested, each member of a Finalist Team agrees to participate in any and all media interviews (including but not limited to radio and television) related to the Contest;

(G) A Finalist Team may/may not have their names or other personal attributes mentioned in the marketing and promoting of the Film created as part of the Contest, as determined by Sponsor, in its sole discretion;

(H) Team members understand that they must follow any safety protocols, including those related to risks of COVID-19, provided by Sponsor in the filming and production of the Film. By agreeing to move forward in the Contest as a Finalist, Team Members voluntarily assume these risks and agree to ensure that the members of their crew agree to release Sponsor from any liability as it relates to any and all safety risks.

(I) Team members acknowledge that they are responsible for:

(i) collecting Publicity Releases and Liability Waivers from all actors used in their production; and

(ii) collecting Releases for use of any artwork or other content used in the production of their Film.

If a potential Finalist Team member cannot be contacted, fails to sign and return the Declaration within the required time period, or is disqualified for any other reason, the potential Finalist Team forfeits the finalist position and the applicable prize and the Team with the next highest score may be selected as a potential Finalist Team, time permitting, and in Sponsor's sole discretion. If the background check reveals that a potential Team Member has engaged in conduct that could damage the reputation of Sponsor or any of the Released Parties, as determined by Sponsor in its discretion, Sponsor may disqualify either the Team Member and/or the Finalist Team as a whole. Both Team members must complete the required documentation or the Team may be disqualified. Each Finalist Team will be required to produce a Film and BTS Content for $20,000 USD (or approximately $26,800 CAD, subject to currency conversion rates at the time prize is fulfilled) or less based on the Team's approved Script. The final MP4 version of the Film must be shared with the Agency Production Coach no later than March 26, 2024 and each Finalist Team must submit all other final deliverables which will include the 10-second introduction to Sponsor by 12:00 p.m. ET (noon) on April 3, 2024, as described in the handbook. FINALIST TEAMS MUST NOT SHARE FILMS, PROGRAM MATERIALS, OR EMAILS WITH OTHERS OUTSIDE OF THIS CONTEST. Sponsor will provide additional details and requirements at the time of Finalist Team selection notification. In order to be eligible to be a potential Grand Prize winner or Fan Favorite winner, Finalist Teams must comply with all of the requirements in the handbook and other information provided. In its sole discretion, Sponsor reserves the right to request minor changes or modifications to a revised Script and/or a Film, including but not limited to title or particular images, if it deems this necessary to fit with the Contest and/or other requirements, including but not limited to trademark issues.     

III. Determination of Grand Prize Winner

After the conclusion of the Post-Production Phase, a panel of judges selected by Sponsor called the “Red Ribbon Panel” will select the potential Grand Prize Team by the following process. The Red Ribbon Panel will score each Finalist Team’s Film based on the same Judging Criteria (excluding the Competence criteria) and weighting specified in Section 6.I. above and the Team whose film has the highest score will be deemed the potential Grand Prize-winning Team. In the event of an exact tie in average rank between 2 or more Finalist Teams’ Films, the Finalist Team Film that best represents/reflects the Coca‑Cola brand in the Red Ribbon Panel’s sole discretion will be deemed the potential Grand Prize-winning Team. The potential Grand Prize-winning Team will be notified via email between April 8 – May 16, 2024 and will be announced at a date to later be determined.

IV.  Determination of the Fan Favorite Winner

After the conclusion of the Post-Production Phase, Sponsor will offer a website that invites the public to vote (“Public Vote Site”) on the 4 films.  All of the details related to the Public Vote Site (dates of the public vote, voter eligibility requirements, and voting limitations) will be set forth on the Public Vote Site. Multiple votes received from any person or email address in excess of the stated limitations will be void. Any attempt by any Finalist Team or voter to obtain votes by any fraudulent or inappropriate means, including without limitation, offering prizes or other inducements to members of the public as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion, by using any automated program, by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations and logins, or any other methods, will void those votes for the Finalist Team’s film and Finalist Team may be disqualified from this aspect of the Contest as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Subject to the Team’s compliance with these Official Rules, the Team whose film receives highest vote count will be deemed the Fan Favorite Prize winner. In the event of a tie, the Team whose film received the highest score for "Entertainment Factor”, as determined by the Red Ribbon Panel in their sole discretion, will be deemed the applicable potential Fan Favorite Prize winner from amongst the tied Teams.

7. Prizes:

1 GRAND PRIZE: The Grand Prize-winning Team members will have their Film screened across select cinema locations in the United States and Canada, all details determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. There is no retail or other monetary value to this Grand Prize.  

1 FAN FAVORITE PRIZE: $5,000 USD (approximately $6,789 CAD, subject to currency conversion rates at the time the prize is fulfilled) to the winning “Fan Favorite” Team. 

• Each Team member who is a U.S. resident with a U.S. SSN will receive $2,500 USD, plus an additional $1,071 intended to help pay for the US income tax liability.  Accordingly, such US residents will receive a total amount of $3,571.50 USD and will be responsible for U.S. income tax liability. This amount will be included in the IRS Form 1099 that will be issued to winner and the IRS.
• Each Team member who is a non-US resident will receive $2,500 USD (approximately $3,390 CAD, subject to currency conversion rates at the time the prize is fulfilled). Sponsor will remit an additional $1,071 USD to the IRS (the United States tax agency) as required by law.  Each non-U.S. resident will be required to complete an IRS Form W-8Ben to claim this prize. Sponsor will issue an IRS Form 1042 to each non-U.S. resident winner reflecting the total value of the prize won ($2,500 USD plus the $1,071 USD, accordingly, a total of $3,571 USD).   

4 FINALIST PRIZES: $20,000 USD to be used to produce the Film based on each Finalist Team's Script as well as produce BTS Content. Films of all Finalists may be screened at select cinema locations, all details determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. ARV of each Finalist Team Prize package is $20,000 USD (approximately $26,800 CAD, subject to currency conversion rates at the time prize is fulfilled).   

Each prize winner/Team member is responsible for all taxes and fees associated with winner’s portion of the prize receipt and/or use.  Winners who are residents of the United States who have a SSN will receive an IRS Form 1099 reflecting the value of all prizes awarded.

For All Prizes: No substitution, exchange or transfer of any prize by any winner or Team member without Sponsor’s prior approval. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize for one of equal or greater value.

8. Publicity: Except where prohibited, participation in the Contest constitutes each Team member's consent for the Sponsor and its designees to use each Team member's name, biographical information, School affiliation, likeness, voice, city and state of residence ("Personal Attributes"), Script, Film, BTS Content, as well as prize information, for promotional, publicity and public relations purposes in any media, including, but not limited to, the internet and social media, without further consideration. Participation further constitutes Team member's acknowledgment that they release and discharge the Released Parties (defined below) from any liability including, without limitation, claims for invasion of privacy, violation of right of publicity, defamation of character, or violation of copyright or any other intellectual property right, whether intentional or otherwise, in connection with such use. Team members further waive the right to approve copy of any such promotional, publicity, or public relations materials produced.

9. General Conditions: If for any reason, the Contest is not capable of running as planned by reason of infection by virus, bugs, worms, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, outbreak of widespread illness, pandemic, or other similar occurrence, civil unrest, undeliverable or postage-due mail, or any other causes which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, may corrupt or affect the administration, operation, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Contest, Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest, and select the winners from among the Scripts or Films received prior to the action taken or in other such manner as deemed fair and appropriate by Sponsor. The Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify an individual it suspects of infringement or it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or to be acting in violation of the Official Rules of this or any other promotion, or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to undermine the legitimate operation of this Contest may be in violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsor's failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. 

10. Release and Limitations of Liability: Except where prohibited, by participating in the Contest, each Team member agrees to release, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Contest Entitles, American Multi-Cinema, Inc., LARRY H. MILLER THEATRES, INC. Cineplex Entertainment LP, Landmark Theatres, Cinemark USA, Inc. and their respective related companies, promotional partners, prize partners, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, and their respective agents and agencies, and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents (the "Released Parties") from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Contest, including, but not limited to: (a) unauthorized human intervention in the Contest; (b) technical errors related to computers, servers, providers, or telephone or wireless networks, network lines, both planned for maintenance, and unplanned; (c) printing errors; (d) errors in the administration of the Contest or the processing or judging of Scripts or Films; (e) defamation which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from disparagement of the winning Script and/or Film or any person involved in their creation; (f) late, lost, or undeliverable email, mail, or shipments; (g) infringement of any third-party rights which may be caused by any Team member's Script and/or Film or Sponsor's modification or use of a Script and/or Film; or (h) injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Team member's participation in the Contest, including illness or death. Each Team member further agrees that in any cause of action, the Released Parties' liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the Contest and in no event shall the Released Parties be liable for attorney's fees. Each Team member waives the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.

11. Disputes: Each Team member agrees that: (a) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan or the appropriate Michigan State Court located in Oakland County, Michigan; (b) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Contest, but in no event attorneys' fees; and (c) under no circumstances will a Team member be permitted to obtain awards for, and Team member hereby waives all rights to claim, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the Team member and Sponsor in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Michigan, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of Michigan or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Michigan.

12. Winner List Requests: For a winner list, send an email with the subject line "Coca‑Cola Refreshing Films Contest – Winner List Request" to info@cocacolarefreshingfilms.com. The winner list will be available after winner confirmation is complete.