Coca-Cola Debuts Christmas Anthology Film Series

Coca-Cola has launched of its first Christmas Anthology film series, under a new creative platform, ‘Real Magic Presents’.

"Real Magic Presents" will see the brand producing new films in different formats all centered around one premise: to share and celebrate stories of human connection, told in magical ways.

Coca-Cola’s first ‘Real Magic Presents’ film production and Christmas anthology - “Christmas Always Finds Its Way” - is the product of an exciting creative collaboration with world-class partners and talent. Launched today on Prime Video, the anthology consists of three short films, produced by ACADEMY AWARD™ winning filmmakers, Brian Grazer and Ron Howard’s Imagine Entertainment.

“Through ‘Real Magic Presents’, Coca-Cola is continuing the promise of the ‘Real Magic’ platform that we launched in 2021, creating more innovative experiences and deeper engagement with fans, across multiple channels,” said Selman Careaga, Category President, Coca-Cola ™. “Christmas has always been a special time for our brand. This year, with our anthology series, we are excited to be breaking new ground, ensuring we are recognizing not just its iconic past but also - in finding new ways to connect with new audiences - its future too.”

To create the anthology, the team tapped production company PRETTYBIRD’s roster for its award-winning directors Vellas (Brazil), JB Braud (France) and Alex Buono (US).

The diverse stories, ‘Alma’, ‘Les Petits Mondes De Noël’ and ‘Christmas Bites’, are each set in a different continent but are united by their core creative territory, which celebrates the extraordinary power of Christmas in creating both real and magical connections.

‘Alma’ (12 mins) is a set in a town in Mexico, famous for making Christmas decorations for the world all year-round. They no longer feel the magic of Christmas, until an event happens to reignite the magic. This short film is directed by multi award-winning Brazilian director, Vellas, who is widely regarded as one of the best Brazilian commercial directors and is about to embark on a Latin American Netflix series.

‘Les Petits Mondes De Noël’ (11 mins) is a romantic love story that unfolds between two estranged lovers working at a neighboring record and bookstore in Paris, who rekindle their connection as they create their decorative holiday window displays. Parisian director, JB Braud has earned critical acclaim for his short film In the Still Night (2019) and Apple’s shot on iPhone campaign Le Peintre (The Painters) (2021).

‘Christmas Bites’ (10 mins) is a comedy set in America around a vampire who meets his girlfriend's parents for the first time, and what happens when he meets his long-time rival, Santa. It is directed by OSCAR™ and Emmy® -nominated American filmmaker, Alex Buono, critically acclaimed for his Netflix series Russian Doll (Season 2), Hulu’s gonzo sci-fi/action/comedy series, Future Man, and Comedy Central’s Detroiters.

‘Real Magic Presents’ is an extension of the ambition at the heart of the ‘Real Magic’ platform, which is to use universal storytelling to bring to life the magic all around us in everyday moments of connection and humanity’, said Pratik Thakar, Global Head Creative Strategy and Content, Coca-Cola ™.

“Christmas provides a wonderful creative canvas for storytelling. We are delighted to have partnered with the incredible team at Imagine Entertainment to bring to life our first Christmas anthology, which celebrates moments of human connection and spirit. And under the umbrella of ‘Real Magic Presents’, we are looking forward to working with other talented writers, filmmakers, producers and platforms to bring more stories of ‘Real Magic’ to life”.

“As Coca-Cola looks to create meaningful connections with audiences this holiday season, we’re excited to provide a seamless experience that helps them share these films with viewers around the world,” said Tanner Elton, vice president of US Sales, Amazon Ads. “From branded content on Fire TV and IMDb to custom Amazon Fresh bags and a Twitch watch-along in Europe, we’re enabling multiple ways for customers to discover these beautiful short films on Prime Video. This program exemplifies the growing opportunities to create new forms of entertainment content and engage audiences in enhanced and rich ways.”

Coca-Cola, led by its team in Latin America, partnered with OpenX from WPP in the creative development and production of the Christmas Anthology Series. Imagine Entertainment partnered with PRETTYBIRD to produce the films with acclaimed filmmakers from around the world.

Marc Gilbar, EVP Brands, Imagine Entertainment, said "At Imagine we are always looking to partner with ambitious brands looking to create memorable and meaningful stories. Coca-Cola's unique credibility in entertainment, deep connection to Christmas and global reach made it the perfect partner to bring these three amazing stories to life."

“This is the time of the year when we can´t get enough of holiday movies. That’s why, with the help of three amazing directors, we are bringing to life an anthology that expresses all the emotions of the holiday season, beautifully wrapped with unexpected storytelling. Who else other than Coke can bring to the world new magical tales, just in time for the season?” added Javier Campopiano, Global Chief Creative Officer at OpenX from WPP.

From today (7th December), customers in select countries with a Prime membership or Prime Video subscription will be able to view the Coca-Cola “Christmas Always Finds Its Way” Anthology as well as eligible non-members, through a free trial.

Credits:

Agency: OpenX from WPP

Production Partner: Imagine Entertainment

Production House: PRETTYBIRD

BRAND TEAM

Pratik Thakar - (Head of Global Creative Strategy & Content)

Elif Kaypak - (Global VP Coca-Cola Brand Strategy Meals)

Adriana Knackfuss - (LATAM Coca-Cola TM Lead)

Luciana Mendes - (LATAM Creative Strategy Director Coca-Cola TM)

Erika Wolthers - (LATAM Production Director)

Pilar Echeverria - (LATAM Creative Strategy Senior Manager Coca-Cola TM)

Mauro Rodriguez - (LATAM Content Manager Coca-Cola TM)

Mónica Vázquez – (LATAM Director Coca-Cola Meals)

Ana Barbara Levinspuhl – (LATAM Manager Coca-Cola Meals)

Luis Pedro Estrada - (LATAM Media Director)

Julieta Sanchez - (LATAM E2E Sr Manager Coca-Cola TM)

Gabriela Díaz-Del-Castillo - (LATAM Manager Brand Communications)

Annamaria Gazda - (LATAM Director Assets & Partnerships)

AGENCY

OpenX from WPP led by GREY

GLOBAL ACCOUNT LEADS

Agi Varanyi (Managing Partner)

Bridget Yeates (Global Business Director)

Harriette Hanson (Global Business Director)

Jack Barber (Account Director)

Elvia Ortiz (SVP, Account Director)

Kerrie Braithwaite (Project Director)

Courtney Borg (Project Director)

CREATIVES

Javier Campopiano (Worldwide Chief Creative Officer at Grey and Global Chief Creative Officer for OpenX from WPP)

Diego Medvedocky (President & CCO LATAM)

Brent Singer (Executive Creative Director)

Costanza Rossi (Creative Director – Head of Art)

Alejandro Devoto (Chief Creative Officer Argentina)

Jessica Bass (Creative Director)

Talia Rapp (Creative Director)

Manuel Castillo (Associate Creative Director)

Enrique Torguet (Associate Creative Director)

STRATEGY PLANNING

Raquel Chicourel (Chief Strategy Officer)

David Toussaint (Global Head of Strategy)

Donna Yan (Strategy Director)

TOWNHOUSE AGENCY PRODUCERS

James McPherson (Chief Production Officer)

Brooke Kaylor (Executive Producer)

Saul Metnick (Executive Producer)

Maxine Hose (Executive Producer)

Megan Swan (Senior Producer)

Kelsey Longo (Producer)

Stephen Bernstein (SVP, Director Business Affairs)

Angelique Vargas (Senior Business Affairs Manager)

Natasha Howell (VP, Head of Talent)

Kurt Steinke (Director of Music Production)

Debbie Joyce (Director of Print Production)

PRODUCTION PARTNER

Imagine Entertainment

Marc Gilbar (EVP, Branded Entertainment)

Katherine Guerra (Development Coordinator)

Meredith Kaulfers (SVP, Documentaries)

PRODUCTION HOUSE

PRETTYBIRD

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Ali Brown (President)

Mike Rosen (Vice President of Development)

Tracy Hauser (Director of Production)

Brian Lierk (Production Supervisor)

Miles Barfield (Post Production Producer)

Alysia Anderson (Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs)

DIRECTOR

Alex Buono – Christmas Bites

JB Braud – ‘Les Petits Mondes De Noël’

Vellas - Alma

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Matthew Jensen – Christmas Bites

André Chemetoff – ‘Les Petits Mondes De Noël’

Khalid Mohtaseb - Alma

LINE PRODUCER

Geoff Walker – Christmas Bites

Doochy Moult – ‘Les Petits Mondes De Noël’

Helena Medina - Alma

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Aaron Bredley – Christmas Bites (Production Supervisor)

Israel Mijangos – Alma (Production Manager)

Martina Petříková - ‘Les Petits Mondes De Noël’ (Production Manager)

PRODUCTION DESIGNER

Justin Dragonas – Christmas Bites

Lucie Amosse – ‘Les Petits Mondes De Noël’

Taisa Malouf - Alma

Claudio Castelli - Alma

CASTING DIRECTOR

Jill Anthony Thomas – Christmas Bites (Casting Director)

Paulina Maqueda – Alma (Casting Director)

Michael Illel – ‘Les Petits Mondes De Noël’ (Casting Director)

Antione Guthman – ‘Les Petits Mondes De Noël’ (Casting Director)

1ST AD

Jason C. Brown – Christmas Bites

Khucame Morales – Alma

Tomáš Pavlacký - ‘Les Petits Mondes De Noël’

LOCAL SERVICE PROD COMPANY

Unit+Sofa – Tiny

The Lift - Alma

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Fady Salameh (Executive Producer, Unit+Sofa)

Jose Barrera (Executive Producer, The Lift)

Fuad Abed Dalton (Executive Producer, The Lift)

MUSIC PRODUCTION

AUDIO & MUSIC COMPANY | COMPOSER

Machine NY

AUDIO ENGINEER

Christmas Bites

Alex Bingham (Mix)

Nigel Manington (Sound Design + Dialogue Edit)

Philip Clements (Foley Record & Edit)

Chas Langston (Audio Assistance)

Michele Covio (Audio Assistance)

Eleni Hassabis (Original Composition & Arrangement)

‘Les Petits Mondes De Noël’

Alex Bingham (Mix)

Jack Goodman (Sound Design + Dialogue Edit)

Philip Clements (Foley Record & Edit)

Chas Langston (Audio Assistance)

Michele Covio (Audio Assistance)

Brice Cagan (Original Composition & Arrangement) Alma

Alex Bingham (Mix + Sound Design + Dialogue Edit)

Nigel Manington (Sound Design)

James Cobbold (Sound Design + Dialogue Edit)

Philip Clements (Foley Record & Edit)

Chas Langston (Audio Assistance)

Michele Covio (Audio Assistance)

Chris Hill (Original Composition & Arrangement)

AUDIO PRODUCER Matej Oreskovic – Executive Producer

Andi Lewis – Senior Producer

MUSIC TITLE – N/A at this time

POST-PRODUCTION HOUSE

Significant Others

EXECUTIVE POST-PRODUCER

Justin Brukman (Managing Director)

Alyssa St. Vincent (Executive Producer)

Julia Johnson (Head of Production)

POST-PRODUCER

Tricia Chatterton-Goldrick (Senior Producer)

Irka Seng (Senior Producer)

EDITING House

Final Cut

EDITING

Justin Brukman (Managing Director)

Sarah Roebuck (Executive Producer)

Penny Ensley (Head of Production)

Jamie Nagler (Producer)

Patrick Colman (Editor – Christmas Bites)

Chris Rizzo (Assistant Editor – Christmas Bites)

Adriana Legay (Editor – ‘Les Petits Mondes De Noël’)

Micah Chase (Assistant Editor – ‘Les Petits Mondes De Noël’)

Antonio Gómez-Pan (Editor – Alma)

Alyce Muhammad (Assistant Editor – Alma)

Gerardo Regalado (Apprentice Editor – Alma)

COLOR GRADING

TRAFIK

Dimitri Zola (Colorist)

Meghan Lang Bice (Sr. Executive Producer, Color)

Julia King (Color Producer)

Taylor Pool (Color Assist)

VISUAL EFFECTS – ALMA

VFX Company: NASH

Cirilo Bonazzi (VFX Supervisor)

Flavia Gannam (Producer)

Andre Neumann (VFX Artist)

Alice Villela (VFX Artist)

Cirilo Bonazzi (VFX Artist)

Luiz Fernando Tavares Alves (VFX Artist)

Rafael Assoni (VFX Artist)

Rafael Jimenez (VFX Artist)

Renata Prado (VFX Artist)

Caio Sorrentino (CG Artist)

Fagmario Rodrigues (CG Artist)

Tomás Piccinini (CG Artist)

Gabriel Bittencourt (Conform)

VISUAL EFFECTS – CHRISTMAS BITES

VFX Company: Ingenuity

Gabriel Regentin (Creative Director / VFX Supervisor)

Grant Miller (Executive VFX Supervisor)

Paul Anton (VFX Producer)

Steven A Bellin (Lead Animator)

Hui Li (FX Artist)

David Gurrola Garcia (FX Artist)

Paul Baran (CG Lead)

Rebecca McKee (Matchmove Lead)

Hugo Martin Sanchez Aguire (Comp Lead)

Andy Gomez (VFX Editor)

Andrew Hsu (Lead Pipeline TD)

Christopher Kornosky (Lead Data Wrangler)