Sundance Institute

Institute History

2012 Sundance Film Festival

Description

Dave, a high school senior, spends most of his time pining away over a girl he can’t have. Aubrey, a junior with artistic aspirations, has a hot boyfriend who doesn’t quite understand her or seem to care. Although they go to different schools, Dave and Aubrey find themselves at the same party. When both head outside to get some air, they meet. A casual conversation sparks an instant connection, and, over the course of a weekend, things turn magical, romantic, complicated, and funny as Aubrey and Dave discover what it's like to fall in love for the first time.

Director/screenwriter Jonathan Kasdan skillfully captures a moment of adolescence that rings resolutely true. With smart writing and breakout performances by Britt Robertson and Dylan O’Brien, its two young leads, The First Time is a sweet, thoughtful, modern look at the angst, anticipation, and hopefulness of young love.

(Archives note: see also Jonathan Kasdan's Meet The Artist interview on our YouTube Channel.)

— L.O.

Screening Details

Section: U.S. Dramatic Competition
Film Type: U.S. Narrative Feature Films
Country: U.S.A.
Run Time: 98 min.

Credits

As you use our Online Archives, please understand that the information presented from Festivals, Labs, and other activities is taken directly from official publications from each year. While this information is limited and doesn't necessarily represent the full list of participants (e.g. actors and crew), it is the list given to us by the main film/play/project contact at the time, based on the space restrictions of our publications. Each entry in the Online Archives is meant as a historical record of a particular film, play, or project at the time of its involvement with Sundance Institute. For this reason, we can only amend an entry if a name is misspelled, or if the entry does not correctly reflect the original publication. If you have questions or comments, please email [email protected]