HOLIDAY SPIRIT

The UPS Store delivers emotional holiday short film

By Reel 360
December 2, 2025

The UPS Store partnered with its creative agency of record, Doner, to take a heartfelt approach to holiday shipping with Verify You Are Human, a cinematic branded short film directed by filmmaker Gia Coppola and produced with The Directors Bureau.

Designed to resonate with Gen Z audiences who are redefining what holidays and home look like, the film reminds viewers that the most meaningful gestures still come with bubble cushioning and a lot of heart.

The ninety-second spot follows a young man on a mission to find the perfect gift for his mother in a world that feels increasingly automated. Algorithms offer suggestions, social feeds push guides, search results multiply and personality quizzes attempt to define his gifting style. Just as he is about to give up and buy a digital gift card, a simple online prompt asks him to verify that he is human.

The question stops him long enough to remember what real connection feels like. He grabs his keys, hits the streets, and chooses a gift only he would know to send, shipping it directly from The UPS Store.

The story celebrates the human side of giving. It highlights the nostalgia, joy, and emotional connection that come from choosing, packing, and sending something meaningful to the people who matter most. The title, Verify You Are Human, plays on the familiar online checkpoint but reframes it as a call to return to the tangible acts of care that define the holidays. Watch below:

Doner tapped Gia Coppola, known for her intimate and emotionally resonant visual style, to bring warmth and cinematic depth to the idea. The agency saw movie theatres as the ideal setting to reach gen z, who continue to value shared in-person experiences.

“Even in a digital first world, nothing compares to receiving something that a loved one took the time to shop for and send,” said Michelle Van Slyke, senior vice president of marketing and sales at The UPS Store. “This branded short film is about inspiring Gen Z to embrace the joy of the holiday season through hand-selecting gifts from local businesses and shipping them with care.”

“The UPS Store has always played a meaningful role for consumers during the holiday season,” said David DeMuth, CEO of Doner. “With this year’s work, the brand is more than a destination. It is an inspiration.”

“I love a holiday spot because they are filled with so much emotion,” said director Gia Coppola. “The sentiment of this one feels especially meaningful for this moment in time. Taking the time and effort to find and ship something is such a beautiful gesture of love. I am grateful to The UPS Store and Doner for trusting me and for allowing me to make something I am truly proud of.”

The campaign is now live in theatres nationwide and will appear in select high-profile placements on network and cable television.

CREDITS:

BRAND: The UPS Store