THE 2025 COCA-COLA® REFRESHING FILMS CONTEST

 

1.    Eligibility: The 2025 Coca‑Cola Refreshing Films Contest (the “Contest”) is open only to teams of two (2) people where at least one (1) member is a legal resident of the 50 U.S. states or the District of Columbia, and is 18 years of age or older as of date of Submission and is a full-time or part-time current undergraduate or graduate student or a person who graduated no earlier than 2023 from one of the participating schools (each a "School”) listed below (each an “Applicant” or a “Team member” and collectively, the “Team”). At least one Team member must have legal authorization and documentation to prove such authorization to work in the U.S. for the entire period of the Contest. If the Applicant or Team member who has such authorization violates the terms of the Applicant’s visa, Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify that Team member, the Team’s Script, Branded Spot (as defined below), and/or Team from the Contest, depending on if the other Team member also has such authorization. Each Team member must be in good standing with their School. Any composers associated with the Teams (each, a “Composer”) must be 18 years of age or older. All Teams must adhere to their School’s campus guidelines. One (1) member of the Team must be designated as the producer and the other Team member can be designated as any key crew role. The Coca‑Cola Company (the “Sponsor”), Coca‑Cola bottlers, Don Jagoda Associates, Inc. (“Administrator”), Viva La Marketing Inc., and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, owners, members, shareholders, directors, officers, employees and agents are collectively referred to herein as the “Released Contest Parties”. No employee of the Released Contest Parties nor any person who is immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings or children) or shares a household with any such employee is eligible to participate. This Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited by law. Participation constitutes Applicant’s and Team member’s full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules.

Participating Schools

1. AFI

2. Arizona State University

3. Belmont University

4. Biola University

5. Boston University

6. Bowling Green State University

7. Brigham Young University

8. California State University-Los Angeles

9. Chapman University

10. Cleveland State University

11. College of Southern Nevada (CSN)

12. Columbia College Chicago

13. Columbia University

14. DePaul University

15. Dillard University

16. Elon University

17. Emerson College

18. Florida State University

19. Full Sail University

20. George Mason University

21. Georgia State University

22. Georgia Tech

23. Hofstra University

24. Howard University

25. Hussian College LA (Formerly Studio School)

26. Indiana University

27. Iona College

28. Ithaca College

29. Los Angeles Film School

30. Loyola Marymount University

31. Missouri State University

32. Montclair State University

33. Morehouse College

34. New Mexico State University

35. New York Film Academy (Los Angeles, New York, South Beach)

36. Notre Dame

37. NYU

38. Pace University

39. Ringling College of Art and Design

40. Rochester Institute of Technology

41. Sarah Lawrence College

42. Savannah College of Art and Design (Atlanta)

43. Savannah College of Art and Design (Savannah)

44. School of Visual Arts

45. Temple University

46. The New School

47. University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

48. University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)

49. University of Miami (FL)

50. University of Central Florida

51. University of Georgia

52. University of Nevada, Las Vegas

53. University of New Orleans

54. University of North Carolina - Wilmington

55. University of North Carolina School of the Arts

56. University of Texas (Austin)

57. University of Southern California (USC)

58. University of West Georgia

59. Utah Valley University

60. Western Kentucky University

61. Wichita State University

62. Woodbury University

2.    Contest Timing: The Contest begins 12:00 pm Eastern Time (“ET”) on August 20, 2024; the Submission is due no later than 11:59 pm ET on October 4, 2024 (the “Submission Period”), and the final Branded Spot (as defined below) from the 4 Finalist Teams is due no later than 11:59 pm ET on March 21, 2025 (the end of the “Finalist Period”). The Submission Period through the Final BTS Content Deliverables Due Date, beginning 12:00 pm ET on August 20, 2024 and ending 11:59 pm ET on May 15, 2025 is referred to herein as the “Contest Period”.

The 4 Finalist Teams will be announced on or about November 20, 2024. The Contest consists of several phases as outlined in the chart below. All dates after the Submission Period are subject to change in the Sponsor’s sole discretion.

 

3.    How to Apply/Submission Parameters: There is NO PURCHASE NECESSARY to participate in the Contest. A purchase does not increase Applicant’s/Team member’s chances of winning.

I.    During the Submission Period of the Contest Period, each Team will receive a program brief through key faculty at their School (the “Program Brief”) outlining the content theme and target audience of the branded spot film (“Branded Spot”), the Official Rules, budget template, program signature page, and contact information.

II.    One Team member (who is the Applicant) will complete the online application form (“Application”) and will be prompted to email the Team’s script (“Script”), a proposed budget (“Budget”) and a signature page signed by Team members and Team member’s School key faculty confirming that the Team members meet the eligibility requirements of the Contest (“Signature Page”) within fifteen  (15) minutes of submitting the Application to info@cocacolarefreshingfilms.com or Team may be disqualified. The Application, Script, Budget and Signature Page will be referred to collectively as the “Submission”. Teams may optionally submit the following additional materials:  a storyboard, a pitch deck that highlights the vibe of their concepts, rip-o-matic, animatic, or video and a proof of concept (collectively, “Optional Additional Materials”), along with their Submission. Optional Additional Materials will be considered by the judging panel when determining which Teams are determined as Semi-Finalists but they must NOT display the names of the Team members, or the name of the School on the Optional Additional Materials. 

There is no limit to the number of Submissions that an eligible Team can complete but all Application components must be complete for each Submission. Teams are permitted to consult with key faculty at their School. 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 4, 2024 and will be based on the Sponsor’s Application timestamp of Submission. Once the Application is processed, both Applicants listed on the Application will receive an email confirmation to confirm that Application has been received. If a confirmation email is not received within five (5) days of completing the Submission, Applicant may send an email to info@cocacolarefreshingfilms.com and request confirmation of receipt. Proof of sending Submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, illegible, or misdirected Submissions, all of which will be disqualified.  If you are notified that your Submission is missing any information/components that would result in disqualification, you may resubmit provided it is within the Submission Period.

III.    All Team members represent and warrant that: (a) the Submission does not and will not infringe on any copyright or trademark or any other third-party right nor violate any applicable law or regulation, (b) they have the right to grant any and all necessary rights and licenses provided herein, including without limitation, all necessary copyright, trademark and other related rights in and to the Submission and the Branded Spot, free and clear of all claims and encumbrances without violating the rights of any person or entity, including without limitation any right to privacy or publicity.

IV.    By submitting a Submission, Applicant agrees that it conforms to the Script & Budget Requirements and Script & Branded Spot Content Restrictions set forth below and that Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may disqualify them from the Contest if it determines their Submission fails to conform to the Script & Budget Requirements and Script & Branded Spot Content Restrictions or does not meet any other criteria stated elsewhere in these Official Rules. Any Submission deemed inappropriate or unsuitable, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, will be disqualified.

V. Script & Budget Requirements:

a.    Script must be in English.

b.    Script must be the length appropriate for a 50-second Branded Spot (ONE page or less).

c.    Script must NOT contain a title page. Rather, the title should be listed at the top of the Script.

d.    Script must NOT display any identifiable information, such as the names of the Team members, or the name of the School on the Script.

e.    Script must be saved and submitted as a .pdf.

f.     Budgets must be submitted using the Budget template provided and saved as an Excel doc.

g.    Budgets must demonstrate that the Team is able to (i) create and produce a Branded Spot and (ii) create a behind-the-scenes documentary and related additional still and video assets related to development and production of the Branded Spot, using their secondary behind-the-scenes crew (the “BTS Content”) for no more than $20,000. Finalists are not permitted to spend their own money to pay for the appropriate crew or necessary equipment or other resources needed to complete Branded Spot production; Finalists may use in-kind resources or equipment offered by their School.

h.    Budgets must demonstrate that the Script will be filmed and produced safely, consistent with safety guidelines set by each School and applicable laws.

i.     Applicant must name and save ALL of their documents using their Script title. Example: “BreakTheNight_Budget” and “BreakTheNight_Script”. This includes any materials in their Submission and any Optional Additional Materials submitted.

j.    Additionally any Optional Additional Materials should not display any identifiable information such as the names of the Team members, or the name of the School.

VI. Script & Branded Spot Content Restrictions:

a.    Script/Branded Spot must be 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 Branded Spot), provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, generative AI may be used (i) to create visual assets for use in storyboards, animatics, lookbooks, and previz assets, and (ii) to create limited visual set dressing (e.g., background set dressing “movie posters”) for use in and in connection with the Submission and the Branded Spot [(i) and (ii) are collectively referred to herein as the “Permitted AI Materials”); provided however that the Team must have a work-for-hire deal memo in place with any person who creates such assets on behalf of Team (if the creator is not a Team member)], and provided further that the AI platform used must grant all rights, including not limited to copyright, in and to all such Permitted AI Materials. 

b.    Teams may not copy or plagiarize any portion of the Submission from any source. Except for the Limited License (defined below) to use Sponsor’s brand names and trademarks granted by Sponsor (as described below), they may not submit a Script in which any person other than themselves or the other member of their Team owns any rights (including, but not limited to, rights as joint owner or joint author). A Script may not be based in whole or in part on the work of any other person (including without limitation, any other material, whether fiction or nonfiction, published or unpublished, produced or unproduced), unless it qualifies as a legitimate parody under U.S. copyright law. If a Team has adapted their Script, or any part of it, from another original work(s) created solely by a Team member, they must prominently disclose that fact when they 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.

c.    Script/Branded Spot must not contain any elements that would violate third-party rights. Additionally, no references to real people (living or dead) or existing fictional characters are permitted. CAUTION: This means, among other things, that a Script may be disqualified if it contains, or suggests that the Branded Spot will contain, such things as:

i.    Trademarks owned by others, including consumer brands. All props, signage, movie posters, and venues must be original or Coca‑Cola-approved.

ii.    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. copyright law. Important Note: The judges, in consultation with their legal advisers, will make this fair use/parody determination in their sole discretion. Therefore, Applicants should understand that their attempt to create a parody could result in the disqualification of their Script.

iii.    Music owned by third parties. Accordingly, the Branded Spot must use original music that is acceptable for use in all media worldwide in perpetuity. For the avoidance of doubt, no music libraries can be utilized (sound libraries are acceptable for use, with proper licensing and documentation). 

iv.    The names, likenesses, voices, or other indicia identifying celebrities, movie/cartoon characters, and other public figures, living or dead, or look-alikes or sound-alikes of celebrities or other public figures, living or dead.

d.    However, Teams have a Limited License to use Sponsor’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.

e.    Script/Branded Spot must not include any beverages other than Sponsor’s Non-Alcoholic beverages.

f.     Script/Branded Spot 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.

g.    Script/Branded Spot must include scenes set at a partnered movie theater.

h.    All characters included in the Script/Branded Spot must be 15 years or older and must look age appropriate.

i.     Script/Branded Spot must respect the roles of parents and caregivers by NOT marketing to children under 15 years of age. Teams must keep this in mind if they plan to include animated characters.

j.    The Script and Branded Spot must comply with standards and practices related to the Coca‑Cola Responsible Marketing Policy. Accordingly, without limitation, the Branded Spot must not, in the  Sponsor’s sole discretion, include any animation that could appear as though it is intended to appeal to or be directed at an audience under the age of 15 (regardless of Applicant's intended audience).

k.    Script/Branded Spot must not include any live animals.

l.    Script/Branded Spot 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.

m.    Script/Branded Spot 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.

n.    Script/Branded Spot must not disparage, ridicule, denigrate, or embarrass the Released Contest Parties or their products, or services.

o.    Script/Branded Spot must not contain material that is unlawful, in violation of or contrary to the laws or regulations of the United States.

VII.    By entering, each Team member understands that their Submission (or any portion thereof) may be posted online, in Sponsor’s sole discretion, to be viewed by members of the general public, in accordance with the grant of rights set forth in Section 9. All eligible Submissions must be received during the Submission Period.

VIII.    Team members confirm agreement that their use of Sponsor’s logos is subject to the Sponsor’s grant of a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable, royalty-free license to use Sponsor’s logos (the “Limited License”) solely for purposes specifically indicated in these Official Rules. If a Team is not determined as one of the Finalist Teams, the Limited License granted to that Team will automatically be terminated and said Team members may not use any Sponsor logo, name, trademark or any other branding depicted in their Script for any purpose whatsoever, provided that such Team may use their Script with all such references completely redacted. 

4.    Judging for Semi-Finalist Determination/Semi-Finalist Notification and Verification: At the conclusion of the Submission Period, all Submissions will be judged and scored (“Semi-Finalist Determination”) by a panel of Sponsor-selected judges (the “Judges”). The Judges will judge the Application, Budget, Scripts and Optional Additional Materials and will select eight (8) Semi-Finalist Teams (the “Semi-Finalist Teams”) based on the following criteria (“Judging Criteria”):

I.    Creativity (20%)

a.    Overall quality of Script and storyline

b.    Creativity and originality

c.    Ability to effectively tell a compelling story

II.    Creative Fit to Theme and Tone (30%)

a.    Does the storyline successfully answer the elements in the Program Brief?

b.    Does the concept represent/reflect the Coca‑Cola brand image (“Brand Image”)?

III.    Entertainment Factor (30%)

a.    Does the story provide a new, untold perspective?

b.    Is the story entertaining?

c.    Is it engaging to the target audience?

IV.    Competence and Experience of the Team to produce a film (20%)

a.    Willingness to be mentored

b.    Receptive to feedback

c.    Overall film experience

d.    Budget accuracy

In the event of a tie, the Team whose Script received the highest score for “Creative Fit to Theme and Tone” will be deemed the potential Semi-Finalist Team. 

All potential Semi-Finalist Teams will be notified via email by Viva La Marketing, Inc. within one (1) to two (2) business days following the Semi-Finalist Determination. The Semi-Finalist Teams will be required to complete and return a Declaration of Compliance, Release of Liability, Assignment of Rights and a Publicity Release (where legal) (collectively, “Declaration”) (along with any other forms deemed necessary by Sponsor, including, but not limited to, a Limited License to use Sponsor's trademarks), including each Team members’ consent to a comprehensive confidential background check, including, but not limited to, (i) a criminal and social security/social insurance records search (“Criminal Check”), and (ii) a review of their social presence (“Social Check”) (collectively, “Background Check”) and they agree to cooperate with Sponsor and/or their agents in performing the Social Check and Background Check (which will be completed prior to confirming Finalists). Declaration will be sent via email/email link and must be returned via email/email link within forty-eight (48) hours of attempted notification or prize may be forfeited and an alternate Semi-Finalist Team may be determined. Failure to consent to the Background Check or Social Check and/or to provide the specific information required to conduct them, including a social security number or other identifying information will result in disqualification. Based on the results of the Social Check, at the sole discretion of the Sponsor, a Semi-Finalist Team may not be eligible to become a Finalist Team if Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that Semi-Finalist Team/Team member may reflect unfavorably on the Contest or Sponsor. Semi-Finalists will not be declared until verification of eligibility of the Semi-Finalist Teams as well as verification of compliance with these Official Rules and return of all required documents. Both Team members must complete the required documentation or the Team may be disqualified. Return of any notification as undeliverable may result in disqualification and the next highest-scoring Semi-Finalist Team may be determined as the potential Semi-Finalist Team (as outlined above). If a Semi-Finalist Team is disqualified for one of the reasons mentioned above and an alternate is determined, the alternate must complete and return the required documents in the timeframe specified. No information regarding Submissions or judging will be disclosed to any third party not involved in the conduct of the Contest.

Each of the Semi-Finalist Teams (once verified) will have approximately 10-days to work with Sponsor and partners to do the following tasks, including but not limited to, revise their Script and update all materials including budget, create storyboards, identify key crew, and provide top theater filming locations and availability to scout said locations, and provide any clarifications on the Submission that Sponsor and partners require (“Supporting Materials”).  The Script and Supporting Materials must be submitted by 5:00 pm ET on October 26, 2024.

5.    Determination of Finalists: After the Semi-Finalist Teams submit their revised Supporting Materials, the Judges will judge the Scripts and the Supporting Materials to determine up to four (4) Finalist Teams who received the highest overall scores based on the Judging Criteria outlined in Section 4 (each a potential “Finalist Team” and collectively, the potential “Finalist Teams”, with each Team member of a Finalist Team being referred to herein as a “Finalist”). In the event of a tie, the Semi-Finalist Team whose Script received the highest score for Creativity will be deemed the potential Finalist Team. Each Finalist Team will then undergo the Background Check (with the exception of the Social Check). Based on the results of the Criminal Check, at the sole discretion of the Sponsor, a Finalist Team may be disqualified: (a) if any Team member has been charged with or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor; (b) if Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that Finalist Team/Team member may reflect unfavorably on the Contest or Sponsor; (c) if Finalist Team/Team member is not eligible to receive the prize(s) based on the eligibility requirements set forth in these Official Rules. The basis for such decisions will not be disclosed to any Team member. 

6.    Finalist Requirements: All deadlines and details for Finalist Requirements will be outlined in the filmmaker handbook (provided to all Finalists) (“Handbook”).

I.    Each Finalist Team agrees to the following:

a.    Each Finalist Team will then work with the Sponsor’s agency production coach [“Agency Production Coach(es)”] and partners to refine, develop, and edit the Script, along with creation of the 10-second introduction/bumper and submit a final revised Script/Final Branded Spot to the Sponsor for final approval. Once approved, the Script and Branded Spot are locked and may not be changed.   

b.    Each Finalist Team should be aware that they will need a primary production crew as well as a secondary BTS Content crew (capturing both still images and video content). Each Finalist Team must also add a social-media manager to their Team. 

Once the final Branded Spot edit is approved, the final exports of the Branded Spot outlined in the Handbook must be shared with the Sponsor’s Agency Production Coach. The role of the Agency Production Coaches is to support the Finalists throughout the Finalist Period. See Handbook for Agency Production Coaches’ contact information and details and all final deliverable due dates. Each Finalist Team must submit all Final BTS Content Deliverables in accordance with the timeline set forth in the Handbook. All final BTS Content Deliverables,including but not limited to, the items outlined below, to Sponsor by 5:00 pm ET May 15, 2025.

II.    “Final BTS Content Deliverables”: Each Finalist Team must document their development and production process with a behind-the-scenes crew to create the BTS Content. BTS Content will consist of the following elements:

a.    Capture of an on-set still photography shot list.

b.    A short form 60-90 second documentary (“Making Of Spot”), related to the development and production of each Finalist Team’s Branded Spot.

c.    Delivery of a properly organized hard drive that contains all footage and still images captured in connection with production of the Branded Spot and the Making of Spot.

d.    Video and still image social media posts aimed at promoting the Finalist Team, their cast and crew, and the Branded Spot. Finalist Teams are expected to produce 4-6 short form video social media posts and 5-10 still image social media posts.

e.    Any third party marks need to be approved through Agency Production Coach before sharing the content publicly.

III.    Each Finalist Team must retain a proper chain of title for their Submission,  Branded Spot, Making of Spot and BTS Content. Without limitation of the foregoing, Finalists must ensure that (a) all cast and crew deal memos contain work-for-hire provisions that assign all results and proceeds to Finalists; and (b) that any license agreements grant broad rights in all media, worldwide, and in perpetuity.

IV.    Each Team member understands that they must act appropriately and professionally as they are considered “brand representatives”. Each Finalist Team member must abide by Sponsor-approved media coaching and PR guidelines and agrees to represent the Brand Image and the Released Contest Parties in a positive light. If requested, each Finalist agrees to participate in any and all media interviews (including but not limited to radio and television) related to the Contest.

V.    No Applicant/Team member will furnish or authorize any publicity of any form relating to the Contest without the prior written approval of Sponsor in each case, except that once initial publicity is released relating to the Contest, a Semi-Finalist or Finalist may make truthful, casual, non-derogatory mention of their involvement therewith.

VI.    Team members understand that they must follow all applicable laws, statutes, and regulations, as well as any safety protocols provided by Sponsor in the filming and production of the Branded Spot.

VII.    Each Semi-Finalist and Finalist shall duly execute, acknowledge and deliver to Sponsor, or cause to be executed, acknowledged and delivered to Sponsor, any and all assignments or instruments consistent with these Official Rules which Sponsor may deem necessary to carry out and effectuate the purposes and intent of the Official Rules and the Contest. In the event a Semi-Finalist or Finalist fails to execute any such instrument after written notice to that effect and a reasonable opportunity (not to exceed five [5] business days) to do so, each Semi-Finalist or Finalist hereby appoints Sponsor as such party’s attorney-in-fact, which appointment shall be deemed a power coupled with an interest, with full rights of substitution and delegation, to execute any such instruments in such party’s name and on their behalf and in which case Sponsor will provide copies of such instruments to such party within a reasonable period of time.

7.    Winner Determination:

Decisions of the Judges/Red Ribbon Panel/Sponsor are final with respect to all matters relating to the Contest and judging. Winning Teams will be notified by email and will need to complete all prize/award acceptance documents (as defined in these Official Rules) within forty-eight (48) hours of notification attempt or prize/award will be forfeited and an alternate winning Team may be determined, time permitting.

Determination of Grand Prize Winning Team: After the conclusion of the Finalist Period, a panel of Sponsor-selected judges known as the “Red Ribbon Panel” will determine a potential Grand Prize Team. The Red Ribbon Panel will judge and score each Finalist Team’s Branded Spot based on the Judging Criteria (excluding the Competence and Experience criterion) outlined in Section 4 above (the “Final Judging Round”). The Finalist Team whose Branded Spot receives the highest score will be determined as the potential Grand Prize winning Team. In the event of a tie in average rank between two (2) or more highest-scoring Finalist Teams’ Branded Spot, the Branded Spot that best represents/reflects the Brand Image in the Red Ribbon Panel’s sole discretion will be deemed the potential Grand Prize winning Team. 

Determination of The Best Music Composition Award Winner: After the conclusion of the Finalist Period, the Red Ribbon Panel will judge and rank each Finalist Team’s Branded Spot, based on the music composition they determine added the most to the Branded Spot. The Composer associated with the Finalist Team whose music composition receives the highest average rank will be determined as the potential “Best Music Composition Award Winner”. In the event of a tie in average rank between two (2) or more highest-scoring Finalist Teams’ music compositions, the Branded Spot that best represents/reflects the Brand Image in the Red Ribbon Panel’s sole discretion will be deemed the potential Grand Prize winning Team. 

The potential Best Music Composition Award Winner will be required to sign and return a Declaration and agree to a Background Check, and they agree to cooperate with Sponsor and/or their agents in performing the Background Check within seventy-two (72) hours of notification in order to be confirmed as the official award winner. If potential Best Music Composition Award Winner fails to return the completed Declaration within seventy-two (72) hours or Declaration is returned as undeliverable, said Composer shall be deemed to be ineligible, the award will be forfeited and an alternate potential award winner may be determined, time permitting. Declaration will be sent via email/email link. If the potential Best Music Composition Award Winner is disqualified for one of these reasons and an alternate is determined, the alternate must complete and return the required documents in the timeframe specified. Based on the results of the Background Check, at the discretion of the Sponsor, the potential Best Music Composition Award Winner may be disqualified: (a) if charged with or convicted of a felony or misdemeanor; (b) if Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion, that award winner may reflect unfavorably on the Contest or Sponsor; (c) if award winner is not eligible to receive the award based on the eligibility requirements set forth in these Official Rules. In such an event, an alternate award winning Composer will be determined and notified as stated above. If no Composer is eligible/accepts the award, Best Music Composition Award will go unawarded.

Determination of Cinemark Fan Favorite Winner: After the conclusion of the Finalist Period, beginning April 9, 2025 at 12:00pm ET and ending April 30, 2025 at 11:59pm ET (the “Voting Period”),  the Sponsor will offer a website that invites the public to vote (“Public Vote Site”) on the Finalist Team Branded Spots. All of the details related to the Public Vote Site (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 and Finalist Team may be disqualified from this aspect of the Contest as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. The Finalist Team with the most valid votes received from the public during the Voting Period will be deemed the potential Cinemark Fan Favorite Winner. In the event of a tie, the Finalist Team whose Branded Spot received the highest score for "Entertainment Factor”, as determined by the Red Ribbon Panel in their sole discretion, will be deemed the potential Cinemark Fan Favorite winning Team from amongst the tied Finalist Teams.

8.    Prizes/Awards and Approximate Retail Values (“ARV”): 

The Red Ribbon Panel Grand Prize (1): The Red Ribbon Panel Grand Prize winning Team will have their 60-second Branded Spot featured in Coca‑Cola partnered theaters across the United States (all details of such feature are at Sponsor’s sole discretion). There is no retail or other monetary value related to the Red Ribbon Panel Grand Prize.

The Best Music Composition Award (1): A recording mentorship session at Coke Studios LA Live including an education session with the onsite production manager, with round trip economy air transportation for winner only, from major airport nearest winner’s home, to Los Angeles and hotel accommodations for two nights (based on single occupancy) and per diem, in Sponsor’s sole discretion. The maximum ARV of the Best Music Composition Award is $2,000 USD. If travel costs are less than $2,000 USD, the winner will not receive any difference.There is no retail or other monetary value related to the recording mentorship session portion of the Prize. 

The Best Music Composition Award Travel Restrictions: Trip must be taken on dates specified by the Sponsor (as they correlate to any award events), and by June 30, 2026, or award will be forfeited. In the event the winner lives within a 150-mile radius of Los Angeles, CA, round-trip ground transportation will be provided in lieu of air transportation and no additional compensation will be provided for the air transportation portion of Prize. If the winner elects to accept the prize with no transportation or hotel accommodations, no additional compensation will be provided for the transportation/hotel accommodation portion of the prize. Airline carrier's regulations and conditions apply. Trip may not be combined with any other offer and travel may not qualify for frequent flyer miles. Winner must have valid travel documents prior to departure (i.e., REAL ID, passport or other TSA-approved ID; visit www.tsa.gov for a list of TSA-approved IDs). All other expenses and costs, not expressly listed above, including, but not limited to, taxes, insurance, telephone charges, room service and laundry services, personal expenses, gratuities, entertainment, transfers, incidental charges, or any other items not specifically described in these Official Rules, any transportation not mentioned within the above award description and all expenses for any of the foregoing are the sole responsibility of the Best Music Composition Award Winner. If any part of the award becomes unavailable, Sponsor will substitute the award of equal or greater retail value. No transfer, cash or other substitution of the award is permitted except Sponsor may substitute award in whole or in part for one of comparable or greater retail value for any reason. Sponsor is not responsible for flight delays and/or cancellations/missed flights resulting in the winner not being able to use or reschedule hotel or other reservations/accommodations and/or any activity related to the prize, and no substitution or compensation will be awarded. In the event the Best Music Composition Award Winner engages in behavior during any travel related to the Contest that (as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion) is obnoxious or threatening, illegal, or that is intended to or does threaten or harass any other person, or that in any way disparages or adversely affects the reputation, image, and/or customer goodwill of Sponsor, or any of Sponsor’s services, products, trademarks, service marks, or logos, Sponsor reserves the right to terminate their travel early, eject them from the trip and send the Best Music Composition Award Winner home with no obligations or compensation to the award winner.

The Cinemark Fan Favorite Prize (1):The Cinemark Fan Favorite winning Team will have their 60-second Branded Spot featured in Cinemark Theatres across the United States (all details of such feature are at Sponsor’s sole discretion). There is no retail or other monetary value related to this portion of the Prize. If the same Branded Spot should win the Grand Prize and the Cinemark Fan Favorite Prize, the Branded Spot is to play twice as many times at Cinemark Theatres’ sole discretion. (2): $5,000, awarded in the form of a check to the winning Team ($2,500 per Team member). If U.S. residents with a U.S. SSN or ITIN, that/each Team member will receive $2,500 USD, plus an additional $700 intended to help pay for the U.S. income tax liability.  The ARV of the Cinemark Fan Favorite Prize is up to a maximum of $6,400 USD.

Four (4) Finalist Prizes: $20,000 to be used to produce the Branded Spot based on each Finalist Team's Script as well as produce BTS Content and Making of Spot. The Branded Spot of each Finalist may be screened at select cinema locations; all details determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. The ARV of each Finalist Team Award is $20,000 USD. 

No transfer, cash or other substitution of the award/prize is permitted except Sponsor may substitute any award/prize (as applicable) in whole or in part for one of comparable or greater retail value for any reason, in Sponsor’s sole discretion. All federal, state, and local taxes are solely the responsibility of each prize winner/award winner (that are U.S. residents with a valid SSN). Prize winners/award winners will be issued a 1099 tax form for the actual retail value of the prize/award awarded. It is recommended that each Team member meet with a tax professional to account for this potential tax liability during the Submission Phase.

9.    Intellectual Property Rights/License: 

I.    Team Rights:

a.    Subject to the various grants of rights contained herein, each Finalist Team retains the intellectual property rights, including but not limited to copyright, in and to those elements of their Script, Submission, Making of Spot, BTS Content and Optional Additional Materials Team that do not contain Sponsor IP (as defined below) (Collectively, the “Applicant IP”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, members shall have no right of approval, no claim to any compensation, and no claim arising out of the use, alteration, distortion or illusionary effect or use in any composite form of Team member’s Attributes (as defined below). Each Applicant may exploit their Applicant IP that contains Sponsor IP only in accordance with the rules and guidance of Sponsor, as may be set forth in the Handbook or otherwise provided to Applicant from time to time (subject to modification and revision at any time, at Sponsor’s sole discretion).

b.    Sponsor grants to Teams the non-exclusive right to use Sponsor’s intellectual property that is provided in connection with this Contest (“Sponsor IP”). However, Sponsor retains all right, title and interest in and to all Sponsor IP, including but not limited to trademarks, trade names, logos and other such intellectual property of Sponsor.

II.    Sponsor/Partner Rights:

a.    Except where prohibited, each Finalist Team member grants to the Sponsor, Coca‑Cola Bottlers and Viva La Marketing, Inc. the right, in perpetuity and throughout the universe, to use each Team member's name, likeness, and/or biography, Script, Submission, Making of Spot, BTS Content, Optional Additional Materials, any prize information (collectively, “Attributes”) in connection with the production, exhibition, advertising and other exploitation of the Contest and the Branded Spot and all subsidiary and ancillary rights therein, in any and all media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in any and all advertising and Contest materials, including but not limited to digital and social media, advertising specialties (e.g., cups, popcorn tubs, etc.), and point of sale materials,  for advertising and promotional purposes in conjunction with this and similar promotions, without notice to a Team member and without further compensation.

b.    Sponsor, Coca‑Cola Bottlers and Viva La Marketing, Inc.  shall have the right, in their sole discretion, to edit, composite, morph, scan, duplicate, or alter the Submission and Branded Spot for any purpose which Sponsor, Coca‑Cola Bottlers and Viva La Marketing, Inc. deem necessary or desirable, and each Applicant/Team member irrevocably waives any and all so-called “moral rights” they may have therein. Some or all BTS Content/Submission may be shared on Sponsor’s digital platforms, with or by Sponsor theater media partners, or in other manners at Sponsor's sole discretion.

c.    Exclusive License to Branded Spot: For a four-year period, beginning May 16, 2025, Sponsor shall have an exclusive license (“Exclusive License”) to use the Branded Spot. However, Finalists may use the Branded Spot for career development purposes (e.g., on their website, job application, referral, and includes submission to festivals and awards) but not for commercial use. After the Exclusive License expires, Sponsor may extend the Exclusive License for an additional four-year period at any time in exchange for a payment of $1,000 which shall be paid as consideration for extension of the Exclusive License to Sponsor for each additional four-year period. This process may be repeated in four-year increments as long as Sponsor wishes to keep the Exclusive License, in Sponsor’s sole discretion. Each Applicant agrees that Sponsor, its subsidiaries, affiliates, joint ventures, distributors and bottlers will have the Exclusive License (defined above) granting the right to the worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, unlimited use in all media of the Branded Spot, for historical, archival, and/or documentary purposes for the timeframes specified for the Exclusive License (e.g., by way of example and not limitation, for use in and in connection with the World of Coca‑Cola Museum and traveling versions thereof, as well as on any Sponsor websites, social media accounts, and YouTube channel) and winning Team members agree to execute documents confirming such Exclusive License (as further set forth above) at Sponsor’s request.

d.    For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, each Applicant hereby agrees that Viva La Marketing, Inc. will have a nonexclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, fully sublicensable (through multiple tiers of licensees), worldwide, fully paid-up, royalty-free license to use and exploit the Branded Spot and the Attributes in any manner whatsoever and in any and all media now known or hereafter devised.

10.    General Rules: By participating in the Contest, each Team member (and Composer) agrees to be bound by these Official Rules. The Sponsor and its agencies are not responsible for technical, hardware, software or telephone malfunctions of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, or failed, incorrect, incomplete, inaccurate, garbled or delayed electronic communications caused by the user or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest or by any human error which may occur in the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Contest or voting, and select the Semi-Finalists (and then the rest of the winners) from among the Submissions received prior to the action taken or in other such manner as deemed fair and appropriate by Sponsor. The Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual that tampers or attempts to tamper with the Submission/voting process or the operation of the Contest or Public Voting Site; violates these Official Rules; or acts in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest may be a 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.

11.    Release and Indemnity. By participating in the Contest, each Applicant (and Team member) and Composer forever waive any and all claims or cause of action against the Released Contest Parties arising out of participation in the Contest, receipt of a prize/award, any subsequent industry events or use or misuse of any prize/award, including, but not limited to any injury or damage to persons or property, including death, which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Applicant’s/Team member’s/Composer’s participation in the Contest or receipt of a prize/award, including without limitation, any cancellation or postponement of any prize/award or prize/award event or any travel or activity related to the receipt or use of any prize/award or prize/award event. Each Applicant/Team member/Composer agrees to indemnify, defend and hold the Released Contest Parties harmless from any and all claims, damages, expenses, costs (including reasonable outside attorneys' fees) and liabilities (including settlements) arising directly out of Applicant’s/Team member’s/Composer’s participation in the Contest, including but not limited to: claims for trademark infringement; copyright infringement; violation of any right of publicity or right of privacy; defamation; unauthorized human intervention in the Contest; technical errors related to computers, servers, providers, or telephone or wireless networks, network lines, whether planned for maintenance or unplanned; printing errors; errors in the administration of the Contest or the processing or judging of Submissions, Optional Additional Materials, Scripts or Branded Spots; defamation which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from disparagement of the winning Script and/or Branded Spot or any person involved in their creation; late, lost, or undeliverable email, mail, or shipments; injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Applicant’s/Team member’s/Composer’s participation in the Contest, including illness or death. Each Applicant’s/Team member’s/Composer’s participation is completely voluntary. Each Applicant/Team member acknowledges that their participation may present certain risks, and they hereby assume any and all risks, known or unknown, associated with their participation in the Contest/winning a prize/award or creation or submission of Submission/Attributes/content/travel related to the Contest. 

12.    Jurisdiction: The Contest and the Official Rules shall be exclusively governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Georgia, without regard to conflicts of law provisions. Team members/Composers submit to exclusive personal jurisdiction in Georgia and agree that any dispute shall be resolved through arbitration in Georgia as outlined below. 

13.    Arbitration: By participating in this Contest, each Applicant/Team member/Composer agrees: (i) that any and all disputes the Applicant/Team member/Composer may have with, or claims Applicant/Team member/Composer may have against, the Released Contest Parties relating to, arising out of or connected in any way with (a) the Contest, and/or (b) the determination of the scope or applicability of this agreement to arbitrate, will be resolved exclusively by final and binding arbitration administered by JAMS and conducted before a sole arbitrator in accordance with the rules of JAMS; (ii) this arbitration agreement is made pursuant to a transaction involving interstate commerce, and shall be governed by the Federal Arbitration Act (“FAA”), 9 U.S.C. §§ 1-16; (iii) the arbitration shall be held in Georgia; (iv) the arbitrator’s decision shall be controlled by the terms and conditions of these Official Rules and any of the other agreements referenced herein that the applicable Applicant/Team member/Composer may have entered into in connection with the Contest; (v) the arbitrator shall apply Georgia law consistent with the FAA and applicable statutes of limitations, and shall honor claims of privilege recognized at law; (vi) there shall be no authority for any claims to be arbitrated on a class or representative basis, arbitration can decide only Applicant/Team member’s/Composer’s and/or Sponsor’s individual claims; the arbitrator may not consolidate or join the claims of other persons or parties who may be similarly situated; (vii) the arbitrator shall not have the power to award punitive damages against the Applicant/Team member/Composer or Sponsor; (viii) if the Applicant/Team member/Composer is able to demonstrate that the costs of arbitration will be prohibitive as compared to the costs of litigation, Sponsor will pay as much of Applicant’s/Team member’s/Composer’s filing and hearing fees in connection with the arbitration as the arbitrator deems necessary to prevent the arbitration from being cost-prohibitive; and (ix) with the exception of subpart (vi) above, if any part of this arbitration provision is deemed to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal, or otherwise conflicts with the rules of JAMS, then the balance of this arbitration provision shall remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with its terms as if the invalid, unenforceable, illegal or conflicting provision were not contained herein.  If, however, subpart (vi) is found to be invalid, unenforceable or illegal, then the entirety of this arbitration provision shall be null and void, and neither Applicant/Team member/Composer nor Sponsor shall be entitled to arbitrate their dispute.  For more information on JAMS and/or the rules of JAMS, visit their website at www.jamsadr.com.

14.    Privacy Policy: Information collected by Sponsor in connection with this Contest may be used by Sponsor and shared with third parties involved in administration of the Contest in accordance with the Sponsor’s online Privacy Policy posted at https://www.coca-cola.com/us/en/legal/privacy-policy. Each Applicant/Team member/Composer/any cast or crew involved in the Contest agrees to the collection, processing and storage of their personal data by Sponsor for the purposes of the Contest.

15.    Finalist and Grand Prize Winners: For the winners’ names, available after November 20, 2025, send an email to: Coca‑ColaWinners@dja.com with WINNERS & 10-2893-77 as the subject line.

16.    Sponsor/Administrator: The Sponsor of the Contest is The Coca‑Cola Company, One Coca‑Cola Plaza, Atlanta, GA 30313. Administrator of the Contest is Don Jagoda Associates, Inc., 100 Marcus Drive, Melville, NY 11747.