PepsiCo announced the launch of its Social Vending System, a state-of-the-art networked unit that features full touch screen interactive vending technology, enabling consumers to better connect with PepsiCo brands right at the point of purchase. A prototype of the Social Vending System is debuting at the National Automatic Merchandising Association’s One Show in Chicago, April 27-29.

Beam Global’s Hornitos Premium Tequila is giving up-and-coming bands a chance at stardom via the new Hornitos Tequila Mariachi Mash Up competition with official media partner Billboard Magazine. Whether it’s rock, hip-hop or classical, the national contest challenges musical acts of all types to create their own mariachi-inspired mash up in celebration of the official kick-off to tequila season.

YouTube is providing filmmakers and cinema fans from all around the globe with an awesome opportunity to watch shorts, screened at the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival, online. Those, who will not be able to attend this year’s event, which is taking place in NYC April 20-May1 and marks its 10th anniversary, can visit a the Screening Room channel on YouTube and so in some way feel the spirit of the festival, which was co-founded by Robert De Niro back in 2002.

One of the boldest youth targeted filmmaking initiatives launched last year, the Sprite Refreshing Films Program, is approaching the finish line. The soft drink brand is proud to present six films created by the finalists of the project and is encouraging Americans to visit the dedicated hub and vote for their favourite short movie by sending text messages—the team behind the winning work will head to a major film festival this summer where their movie will be screened.

The Dannon Company, Inc. yesterday, April 25, announced the launch of a new campaign to help Californians Live Your Active Culture, to support and motivate families stateswide to enjoy a balanced diet and find fun, physically active ways to bring everyone together. The campaign, which will be in full swing beginning in May, consists of five key components: encouraging families to take a pledge to make healthy food choices and include physical activity; a partnership with soccer legend Mia Hamm; a partnership with and donation to the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF); a Dannon mobile tour; and an ongoing, interactive program that provides families with support and rewards for making healthy choices.

Heineken USA is expanding its longstanding partnership with the Tribeca Film Festival by establishing the Heineken Voces Grant in support of American Latino filmmakers. Heineken Voces is a grant under the Tribeca Film Institute Latin American Media Fund, that will carry the mission of encouraging Hispanic filmmakers to redefine, invent, explore and create visions and stories that reflect their diverse cultures. The grant will further the fund’s reach by supporting specifically American Latinos, not only Latin America-based talent.

In the world of beer brands, Stella Artois and Grolsch are recognized cinema addicts. While the first of them provides a retrospective look at the history of cinematograph with its numerous projects and hilarious retro-style campaign as well as pays tribute to the recent accomplishments in the industry by supporting the Cannes Film Festival, the second one, which also celebrates the legendary movies through its Grolsch & LWLies Presents club, from now on is mainly focused on the future. The iconic Dutch beer brand is now sponsoring the 54th San Francisco International Film Festival (SFIFF) and also presents a new program dubbed ‘Grolsch Film Works’ to give a hand to emerging cinema talents.

Miller Lite is encouraging beer drinkers across the USA to ‘save their summer’ by collecting Taste Points and submitting them for the chance to win epic prizes. The program running from May 1 through July 31 allows legal-drinking-age consumers to collect points found on specially marked packages of Miller Lite and by checking-in on foursquare at participating bars and restaurants for a chance to win thousands of daily and weekly, or one of three epic prizes.