Andy Landen and Alice Mathias, graduate students from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, have won the 2009-2010 Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker’s Award for their short film entitled, “Message in a Bottle,” about a romance born from a recycling project.

Landen and Mathias will be presented with their award on March 18 at the star-studded ShoWest Final Night Banquet and Awards Ceremony. The filmmaking duo will receive $10,000 and will have their film featured on over 21,000 movie screens across the nation this Fall as part of Coca-Cola’s pre-feature programming.

Entrants to the Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker’s Award competition created short films featuring Coca-Cola as a refreshing part of the movie going experience. Ten finalists were chosen and each received a $7,500 grant to use toward producing their 50-second spot in 10 weeks.

“Message in a Bottle,” directed by Landen and produced by Mathias, depicts a light-hearted romance of how love develops through the simple act of recycling. Each day after school through rain and shine, a young man stops by the recycling depot to exchange one empty Coca-Cola bottle for a nickel. In the process, he develops a growing interest for the cute girl working at the counter. Embarking on a creative plan to ask her on a date to the movies, he one day delivers a Coca-Cola bottle with the special message inside.

The Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker’s Award has been presented by Coca-Cola each year since 1998. The winner is selected by the Red Ribbon Panel, a group of entertainment industry experts including actors, writers and directors from major movie studios.