Coca-Cola Taps Kenya Barris for Cinematic Short Film Celebrating Generations

Kenya Barris directs Westside’s Finest, a nostalgic Coca-Cola short film celebrating generations, community, and iconic beverages.
Kenya Barris

Kenya Barris, the creative mind behind Black-ish, Grown-ish, and blackAF, has added another storytelling feather to his cap.

This time, he’s lending his signature style to a six-minute short film for Coca-Cola titled Westside’s Finest, a nostalgic ad that captures the evolution of a family-run convenience store—and the iconic beverages that have been part of America’s journey for over 50 years.

At its core, Westside’s Finest is more than just a commercial; it’s a generational story about a neighborhood store that stands the test of time. Through the decades, couples meet, family members pass on, and new faces emerge—all while Coca-Cola, Sprite, Mr. Pibb, Honest Kids, and even New Coke and Tab remain fixtures on the shelves.

Westside's Finest

Barris, who also appears in the ad, is joined by a stellar cast including Lauren London, Omari Hardwick, Lionel Boyce, and Nelson Franklin. It was a family affair as Barris’ wife, Rainbow, and their children, Kass and Bronx, also appeared in the film.

Coca-Cola’s Alex Ames, Director of Content and Creative Excellence, describes the campaign as a way to reinforce Coca-Cola’s status as a “sponsor of generations.” Barris embraced this vision, creating a narrative that showcases how something as simple as a corner store can serve as the backdrop for life’s biggest moments.

“[A neighborhood store] is like a piece of life. It’s almost a second home,” Barris said in an interview.

Unlike traditional commercials, Westside’s Finest has more of a longer, cinematic approach, necessary to appeal to this generation. While previous Coca-Cola campaigns focused on TV, Barris’ film will stream online and be distributed across social media, ensuring it reaches a diverse audience.

Check out the short film below.

Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com