McDonald's Made 5 Short Films Featuring Coffee Beans

This year, as the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) turned 40, one unlikely sponsor delivered a creative birthday tribute: McDonald’s, official coffee provider of the festival, released five short films where coffee beans star in place of actors. The result? Whimsical homages to classic cinema with a caffeine twist.

In total, McDonald’s and creative agency Cossette produced five short films that parody well-known movies—but with coffee beans as the main characters. Each video reimagines a cinematic classic, giving it a coffee-themed makeover and a playful new title.

Coffee Meets Cinema: A Festive Collaboration

This is McDonald’s fourth consecutive year sponsoring TIFF, and to mark the festival’s 40th anniversary, the brand got creative. Instead of a traditional ad or product push, McDonald’s opted to combine its love for film with its role as the “official coffee” of the event. The result? Five delightful short films shot from the point of view of coffee beans.

According to Chuck Coolen, Market Manager for McDonald’s Ontario, Canada, "We wanted to celebrate TIFF’s 40th in a special way, so we combined our love for movies with our passion for coffee."

The Films: Parodies with Coffee Beans in the Lead Roles

Each short film spoofs a well-known movie, replacing the original characters with animated or stylized coffee beans. The titles are also cleverly coffee-ified:

• Braveheart becomes Beanheart
• The Shining becomes The Grinding
• Lawrence of Arabia becomes Lawrence of Arabica
• And two other unnamed films follow the same humorous renaming treatment

The creative concept mimics iconic scenes from these films, but reinterprets them with coffee beans as the heroes. The beans are depicted in charming, anthropomorphic ways that highlight both their journey and their connection to coffee culture.

Where to See the Films

These five coffee-centric short films were not just released online—they’re also part of an in-person campaign. The videos are featured on the insulating sleeves of McCafé coffee cups. Customers can scan a QR code printed on the sleeve to watch the full collection on McCafeCinema.com.

You can also view the films directly via these links: Video 1 and Video 2.

Why This Campaign Matters

By turning coffee beans into the stars of parody films, McDonald’s tapped into the shared cultural experience of cinema while promoting its coffee in a memorable, engaging way. The campaign bridges two beloved worlds—movies and coffee—and does so with humor and creativity.

It also reinforces McDonald’s position as a serious player in the coffee space, not just through product sales but through storytelling and branded entertainment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many short films did McDonald’s create for TIFF 40th anniversary?

McDonald’s created five short films for the 40th anniversary of the Toronto International Film Festival. Each film features coffee beans as the main characters and parodies well-known movies.

What are the names of the coffee-parody films?

The five films include Beanheart (based on Braveheart), The Grinding (based on The Shining), and Lawrence of Arabica (based on Lawrence of Arabia). Two other films follow the same parody naming style but aren’t named explicitly in the source.

Where can I watch McDonald’s coffee bean films?

You can watch the films online at McCafeCinema.com or via the direct links: Video 1 and Video 2. They’re also accessible via QR codes on McCafé cup sleeves.

Which agency worked with McDonald’s on the films?

The creative agency Cossette collaborated with McDonald’s to produce the five short films featuring coffee beans.

Are the coffee beans in the films real products or just animated characters?

The films feature animated or stylized coffee beans as characters. They are not promoting specific coffee products directly, but tie into McDonald’s broader McCafé coffee offerings.

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