New Life

New Life is a romantic drama about the lifelong connection between Benjamin Morton and Ava Kennedy. The two meet as seven-year-old neighbors and maintain a deep bond as they grow from childhood friends into romantic partners. After building a life together based on mutual love, the couple faces an unexpected tragedy that threatens their shared future and forces them to deal with a difficult challenge.

This 2016 American production was directed by Drew Waters, marking the first of two films he directed before Festival of Trees in 2024. The screenplay was written by Erin Bethea, Candice Irion, and Josh Spake, with Waters, Bethea, and Jay Michaelson serving as producers. The film stars Jonathan Patrick Moore as Benjamin and Erin Bethea as Ava, supported by a cast that includes James Marsters, Barry Corbin, Terry O'Quinn, and Bill Cobbs. The production involved a credited crew of 76 and a cast of 39.

Audience reception was moderately positive, with a rating of 6.2 on IMDb based on 1,100 votes and a 6.5 on TMDB from 44 votes. In contrast, the film received a lower score from critics, who gave it a 4.7 rating based on seven reviews.