Exploring the excitement, vulnerability and uncertainty surrounding unexpected romantic connections often drives the chemistry and tension in romantic movies. That’s certainly true for the ensemble for the new short film, ‘The First Date.’

The 15-minute movie is set to premiere in the Short, Sweet, & Queer section of this year’s Newport Beach Film Festival. The screening will be held on Saturday, October 17 at 4:00pm PT at The Lot, Screen 4.

Will Crouse and Ashley Crowe wrote and directed the short. Crowe and Alex Nolen star in the movie.

‘The First Date’ follows Amesha and Jori, two women who meet at a bar and immediately catch each other’s attention. What begins as a chance encounter soon becomes an adventurous and unforgettable first date.

Amesha has never been with a woman before. Meanwhile, Jori has never taken acid, creating an unusual starting point for their evening together. As the night unfolds, both women take a leap into unfamiliar territory.

Their experience becomes a tender and playful exploration of vulnerability, courage, and human connection. Through their journey, the story examines the excitement that can accompany stepping beyond familiar boundaries.

‘The First Date’ originated during a conversation between Crouse and Crow. The latter shared a personal story about how she and her then-girlfriend had been each other’s first romantic experiences.

Crouse already had an idea about two people falling in love while taking acid for the first time. The two concepts eventually came together and inspired the foundation for the movie.

From there, the filmmakers began scribing and collaborating on the project. Their creative partnership ultimately led to the production of their first movie together.