Festivals - Sundance Film Festival 2021 : First date will have its world premiere

By Mulder, 26 december 2020

Mike, a high school kid with a crush, finally summons the courage to ask Kelsey out on a date. With a date but no wheels, Mike borrows money and gets duped into buying a clunker ’65 Chrysler. Although many a first date goes awry, Mike’s swiftly descends into a surreal misadventure that finds him inexplicably targeted by a pair of cops, a criminal gang, and a vengeful cat lady—with all roads leading to a showdown.

First Date is a purely entertaining throwback, billed by newcomer directing duo Manuel Crosby and Darren Knapp as a dark comedy and coming-of-age thriller (Superbad meets True Romance). As an ode to the bygone movies of the directors' youth, the film takes unexpected turns through a mishmash of genres without losing its way, deftly balancing tone and playfully reimagining the collision of teenage incorruptibility and real-world cynicism. Propelled by its fantastic lead, Tyson Brown, and the impressive cinematic instincts of Crosby and Knapp, First Date is an outstanding first feature.

Synopsis :
After being conned into buying a shady '65 Chrysler, Mike's first date plans with girl-next-door Kelsey implode as he finds himself targeted by criminals, cops, and a crazy cat lady.

First date (USA)
Written and directed by Manuel Crosby, Darren Knapp
Produced by Brandon Kraus, Manuel Crosby, Darren Knapp, Lucky McKee, Charles Horak
Starring Tyson Brown, Shelby Duclos, Jesse Janzen, Nicole Berry, Ryan Quinn Adams, Brandon Kraus
Music by Noah Lowdermilk, Kevin Kentera, Manuel Crosby, Mads Heldtberg
Sound Designer : Andrew Smetek
Cinematography : Manuel Crosby
Sound Recording : Andrew Hobgood, Ian Robertson
Camera Crew : Josh Fesler, Matt Couto, Jordan Sachs, Garret Sachs
Special FX Supervisor : LK
Gaffers : Cody Martin, Rylon Bird, Francisco Acosta
Colorist : Ryan J. Orozco
Edited by Zach Passero, Manuel Crosby
Distributed by Visit Films
Release date : February 1, 2021 (Sundance)
Running time : 103 minutes

Premiere : feb. 1 - 3:00am // Second screening : feb. 2 - 4:00pm (local time)

(Source : press release)