For the first time, the UCF film students in the Nicholson School of Communication and Media in the College of Sciences have been selected as finalists in the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films program. Cinemark Fan Favorite voting launches today and the public can vote for their favorite of the four entries through April 30. (Note: Every vote is an entry for a chance to win prizes such as movie tickets for a year or a $500 gift card). Cinemark will distribute the winning Cinemark Fan Favorite film in their theaters, in addition to providing the finalists with a cash prize.
Professor and Associate Director of the Film and Mass Media program Lisa Mills is hoping for a win for the students and shares that this historic recognition speaks to the talent and creative vision of UCF’s filmmakers on a national level.
“As the quality of our students continues to increase and our film program grows, so does our national reputation as an outstanding film degree program.”
Mills says the intersection of technology and creativity plays a vital role in filmmaking, which is highlighted in UCF’s innovation driven film program.
“Filmmaking is a technology-based art at its foundation,” Mills says. “As UCF frames itself as a technology leader, film students show us how technology combined with creativity evokes emotion and brings ideas to the screen.”
Acquiring hands-on experience and working with industry standard technology, such as high-definition cameras and editing software, is a central part of UCF’s film program, and this unique competition provides that opportunity for students. Coca-Cola Refreshing Films Program Manager and Producer Katie Pryor says this program gives students a chance to showcase their skills with professional experience.
“The goal of this program is to give students a real-world experience creating content for a big brand,” Pryor says. “It’s meant to provide students with an opportunity to experience the commercial side of filmmaking and receive industry mentorship.”
Pryor says that brands are in need of content and students need opportunities to further their experience, creating natural alignment with this program.
“This program has a profound impact by providing participants with the opportunity to create branded content while still in school and giving them access to high level equipment, including a RED Digital Cinema Camera, and a professional color session at Company 3 during postproduction,” Pryor says. “It not only empowers individuals to achieve their personal and professional goals but also contributes to the growth of the industry by fostering the next generation of talent.”
Making it to the finals is a first-time experience for Knights, and Pryor emphasizes the creativity and unique vision that set UCF apart from other entries.
“The UCF students’ theme celebrated the real magic of going to the movies,” she says. “The script tapped into a very relatable idea that the movies can spark our imagination and allow us to dream. The idea of a person imagining a future for themself on a date being sparked by the movies was a unique take on the date night concept and something we hadn’t done before.”
Pryor worked with film students Kenny “K.L.” Sanon ’24, who graduated in December 2024, and Grace Tompkins ’24, a film alumna who is currently pursuing a bachelor’s in English at UCF, and says that working with them has shown the skills and experience they gained as Knights.
“We’ve been very impressed with Kenny and Grace’s collaborative nature and their amazing crew of UCF students and teachers,” she says. “It’s been wonderful to see the support they’ve received from faculty and their peers. The UCF community has rallied to see this project succeed.”
Tompkins’ journey to her directorial debut has been an unlikely one and represents the culmination of hard work and creativity.
“My love of movies started at a very young age. Growing up in the foster care system, I faced a lot of difficult moments, and during those times, books and films became my refuge,” she says. “Movies made me feel seen, like I belonged somewhere, and that feeling stuck with me. Now, as a writer and director, I’m passionate about creating stories that can do the same for others. I believe storytelling has the power to comfort, inspire and transport us, and being able to create that kind of magic for someone else — that’s everything to me.”
Tompkins, who worked as the director on set, wrote the script for UCF’s finalist entry, Screening Love, for Coca-Cola Refreshing Films. She shares that this opportunity is more to her than filling a role on set.
“I set out to write a story that could make people smile, something relatable and uplifting, and as a director, I had the chance to visualize how all our hopes and ideas could come together,” Tompkins says. “It wasn’t just about directing, it was about building a team, a family, and leading us toward a shared vision.”
She shares that the team she helped build had a major impact on set and the final cut of the film.
“Our crew was mostly made up of UCF film students, and we were lucky to have a few amazing professionals on set as well,” Tompkins says. “K.L. and I put a lot of care into building the right team for our film, and I’m so proud of the work we all did. I walked away from this with lasting connections and a deep appreciation for collaborative filmmaking. It’s been an unforgettable experience.”
Tompkins had previously submitted to the program and continued to do so for several years with the support of lecturer Bruce Wood, who served as the liaison from UCF.
“I read dozens of submissions each year. I thought her concept was original — I wasn’t the slightest bit surprised when it was chosen as a semi-finalist and eventually a finalist Wood says. “I am extremely proud of UCF film’s success in this program — it’s a large, time-consuming project and while we are a bit of an underdog entry, this finalist recognition shows our strength against other longstanding film programs in the country.”
K.L., who served as the producer on set, says that having a career in film has long been a dream of his.
“Storytelling has always been at the core of who I am, but I didn’t initially pursue it because I was discouraged and guided toward a career that offered financial security,” he says. “However, during the pandemic, I decided to pivot and take the risk of following my aspirations.”
As a nontraditional student, K.L. shares how juggling his full-time job and Coca-Cola Refreshing Films was a struggle at times, but it also made him a stronger filmmaker.
“Being on set was a challenge. I came from working an eight-hour shift and jumped straight into a 12-hour production,” K.L. says. “However, watching all the planning, organization, and logistics come together to bring the story to life, highlighted the power of collaboration and perseverance.”
Looking back on this experience, K.L. says that blending both sides of his career made a considerable difference in how he was as a producer.
“For the longest time, I thought I had to keep my corporate and creative identities separate, but this program made me realize that I need both. This opportunity refined everything I knew about film production,” he says. “Managing a $20,000 budget, securing film insurance, executing effective marketing initiatives, handling contract releases and audits, and following operational practices have all given me the confidence to compete seriously and push my creative endeavors.”
K.L. also emphasizes the significance of UCF’s selection for the program, highlighting what it means to Knights.
“Initially, I believed only larger film schools were selected for this program,” he says. “Seeing UCF chosen means a lot—it speaks to the creativity, hard work, and dedication of the talented UCF students and staff.”
Reflecting on what participating in this program means to her, Tompkins says the whole experience has been an excellent opportunity for her as she is already meeting the goals she envisioned for herself as a filmmaker.
“Collaborating with Coca-Cola for this opportunity has had an enormous impact on my professional film experience. To have my directorial debut tied to such an iconic global brand is surreal,” she says. “Every filmmaker dreams of seeing their work on the big screen, and because of this partnership, and the support from theaters, I’m achieving that dream early in my career. It’s a milestone that has brought me to a new level, and I’m excited to keep building on that momentum in the future.”
That momentum is something Mills says she sees as the future of UCF’s film program.
“We’re proud of all our film students,” Mills says. “K.L. and Grace’s artistic vision and strong work ethic are intrinsic to students in our program. Making a high-quality film in a short amount of time with a small budget isn’t easy but these students embrace the challenge every day.”
