Full Sail Stories

Full Sail University rolled out the red carpet this past Saturday as students, graduates, and the campus community gathered at Full Sail Live for the Coca-Cola Refreshing Films Premiere Night and Cinemark Fan Favorite Voting Party.

The event celebrated two standout Full Sail teams who rose to the top of more than 450 national submissions – an achievement that placed the university in two of the competition’s top three spots. Graduate team members Angel Quinapallo and Kylie Shouse earned the prestigious Red Ribbon award for Behind the Screens, while student filmmakers Brandon Bishop and Christina Almuina were recognized as finalists for What Makes Them Magic.

Dressed in formal, red carpet-ready looks, attendees stepped into a celebratory atmosphere filled with premiere-style energy. The evening featured screenings of both finalist films on the big screen, giving cast, crew, and supporters the chance to experience the finished projects together.

Full Sail President Garry Jones opened the night with remarks congratulating the students and graduates on their accomplishment, recognizing the scale of their success and the collaborative effort behind each film. Many of those collaborators – fellow Full Sail students and grads who worked on the productions – were also in attendance to celebrate the milestone.

The night also highlighted additional talent behind Behind the Screens, including Full Sail Lab Instructor Kevin Kraus, who won the competition's Best Music Composition prize for his work on the film.

Guests enjoyed complimentary refreshments from Coca-Cola, along with classic movie theater popcorn and candy, adding to the premiere-night experience.

Beyond the celebration, the event served as a launch point for the next phase of the competition: Fan Favorite voting. Audiences can now support both Full Sail finalist films in the Cinemark Fan Favorite category through May 10. Cast your vote here.