Regal Cinemas and Coca-Cola® Announce Return of Competition for Aspiring Filmmakers

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Regal Entertainment Group, a leading motion picture exhibitor owning and operating one of the largest theatre circuits in the United States, along with Coca-Cola announce the return of the premiere student film program in the country.  The Coca-Cola and Regal Films program invites aspiring, up-and-coming filmmakers from 29 top university and college film schools across the country to participate.

The Coca-Cola and Regal Films program is a six-month initiative providing students with hands-on experience managing all aspects of filmmaking. From developing scripts and managing the creative process to casting and production, student finalists ultimately will create a 35-second film about the special movie-going experience using RED Digital Cinema cameras. The program also gives students the opportunity to work alongside marketing and creative teams at The Coca-Cola Company, Regal Cinemas and RED Digital Cinema.

"In partnership with Coca-Cola, we are excited to offer this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to young filmmakers," said Ken Thewes, Chief Marketing Officer for Regal Entertainment Group. "The Coca-Cola and Regal Films Competition provides hands-on cinematography experience to talented students, and we are impressed every year by the creativity each team exhibits. This competition opens the door to greater career opportunities for many of our entrants, and we look forward to kicking off another great year of the program."

Coca-Cola and Regal teams will select up to five finalists who each will receive $15,000 and the opportunity to shoot on a complete RED Digital Cinema camera kit to produce a 35-second film. A Red Ribbon panel comprised of entertainment industry experts, Coca-Cola, Regal, and RED representatives will choose the 2018 grand prize winner, who will be announced at the CinemaCon conference in April 2018. The grand prize-winning team will have their film played on thousands of Regal Cinemas screens across the country and win a RED RAVEN® Camera Kit.

Coca-Cola and Regal Films' 2017 grand prize winners were Tom Teller and Julian Conner from Chapman University. Their film "Crunch Time" is currently playing at Regal theatres nationwide. Winning the program was a stepping stone in their on-going passion for filmmaking. Since graduating from Chapman University, they have formed Frame 48, a full-service production house based in Southern California.

"Every student with an interest in filmmaking should participate in the Coca-Cola and Regal Films competition. From working with supportive corporate partners to hands-on learning with RED Digital Cinema's state-of-the-art equipment, we now hold new perspectives and a great appreciation for the commercial world," said Julian Conner, winner of the Coca-Cola and Regal Films program 2017. "Thanks to this experience, I've been able to take the lessons learned and put them to use at our own production company, Frame 48. We loved our time in this program, and now continue to make branded content full time."

"The Coca-Cola and Regal Films Competition was the experience of a lifetime that provided us with the tools to drive our production company, Frame 48, forward, as well as our careers," said Tom Teller, winner of The Coca-Cola and Regal Films program 2017. "Crunch Time follows a character much similar to many of us, one who can't resist the temptation of the movie going experience synonymous with popcorn, an ice-cold Coca-Cola and Regal Cinemas. To have the work of our team seen in so many theaters by millions of moviegoers was a dream come true. The competition was an exceptional experience that we are grateful to be a part of."

The next time you go to a Regal theater, the trailer you see before your film starts just might have been made by students.

Along with "Crunch Time", Regal is proud to announce that both runners-up films will also receive screen time. "Coca-Cola Gaze" from AFI Conservatory's Jane Hollon (Producer) and Mia Niebruegge (Writer/Director) and "Just In Time" a film from UCLA'sGolden Zhao (Cinematographer) and Stephen Heleker (Writer/Producer) will both be featured this fall at Regal Cinemas.

About Regal Entertainment Group:
Regal Entertainment Group (NYSE: RGC) operates one of the leading and most geographically diverse theatre circuits in the United States, consisting of 7,379 screens in 566 theatres in 43 states along with Guam, Saipan, American Samoa and the District of Columbia as of June 30, 2017. The Company operates theatres in 48 of the top 50 U.S. designated market areas. We believe that the size, reach and quality of the Company's theatre circuit not only provide its patrons with a convenient and enjoyable movie-going experience, but is also an exceptional platform to realize economies of scale in theatre operations. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.REGmovies.com.

About The Coca-Cola Company:
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and nearly 3,900 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world's most valuable and recognizable brands, our company's portfolio features 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. These brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages. More than 1.9 billion servings of our beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world's top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.

About RED Digital Cinema
RED Digital Cinema is a leading manufacturer of professional digital cameras and accessories. In 2006, RED began a revolution with the 4K RED ONE digital cinema camera. By 2008, RED had released the Digital Stills and Motion Camera system that allowed the same camera to be used on features like "The Hobbit" trilogy and "The Martian," Emmy-winning shows like "House of Cards" and covers of magazines such as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. The cameras of RED's DSMC2 line — RED RAVEN, SCARLET-W, RED EPIC-W and WEAPON — combine compact and lightweight design, superior image quality, incredible dynamic range, modularity and cutting-edge performance, including up to 8K resolution. In 2017, RED's 8K HELIUM sensor set the new image quality standard with the highest DxOMark score ever. Find additional information at www.red.com.

Media Contact:                 
Richard M. Grover
Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Regal Entertainment Group
richard.grover@REGmovies.com 
865-925-9539

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SOURCE Regal Entertainment Group