Guess who’s hitting the big leagues now? None other than Malia Obama! Yep, the 26-year-old filmmaker (and yes, THE eldest daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama) just made her directorial debut, and the world is losing its collective mind. She presented her very first short film, The Heart, at the 2024 Deauville American Film Festival in fancy-schmancy Deauville, France.
Oh, and did I mention she’s using a stage name now? That’s right, she’s going by “Malia Ann.” Because apparently, being part of the most famous family in the world isn’t enough—she’s also getting artsy. When she rocked up at the event, Malia had a little chat with Paris Match and admitted that doing red carpet interviews wasn’t exactly her jam.
“I’m so excited,” she gushed. “I mean, I’ve never done anything like this before … so, of course, I’m a little bit terrified, but mostly just excited.” Translation: “Help, I’m freaking out but trying to be cool.”
But wait, there’s more! Malia didn’t just show up, smile, and wave. She got an AWARD. Yes, she was honored with the Young Spirit Award. Sounds fancy, right? According to the festival, this award celebrates “the new figures of tomorrow’s cinema,” which is basically French for, “Malia is about to be a big deal, y’all.” They even made up a special prize just for her. That’s right, custom-made awards—because when you’re an Obama, life comes with perks.
In case you missed the first screening (because you were, I don’t know, living under a rock), The Heart was also shown at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Malia described her film as a tender little story about lost objects, lonely people, forgiveness, and, because why not, regret. You know, light and cheery stuff. But don’t worry, she promised it has some heartwarming moments.
“It’s really about finding tenderness in all the messiness of life,” Malia said, probably while wearing something stylish, because let’s face it, she’s always stylish. Speaking of which, let’s not forget the fashion details: Malia wore a Vivienne Westwood outfit that probably cost more than your car and some Coperni boots that, honestly, could crush hearts (and toes).
So, what’s next for Malia Ann? World domination? Maybe. But for now, she’s keeping it cool, calm, and very chic as she steps into the spotlight. Go ahead and mark this moment in your calendars because it’s the start of something big.
(And yes, if you squint, you might even spot Barack and Michelle in the background, bursting with pride, obviously.)
