Malia Obama’s short film, called “The Heart,” is getting a screening at the Sundance Film Festival.
In a video posted by Sundance about the project, Obama — who wrote and directed “The Heart” — described it as “an odd little story, somewhat of a fable, about a man grieving the death of his mother after she leaves him an unusual request in her will.”
“The film is about lost objects and lonely people, forgiveness and regret. But I also think it works hard to uncover where tenderness and closeness can exist in these things,” said former President Obama’s 25-year-old daughter, who is credited using her first and middle names “Malia Ann” for the film.
Obama’s work premiered as part of the slate of U.S. fiction short films this week at Utah’s famed film festival, which runs through Jan. 28. The former first daughter appeared on the red carpet for her Sundance debut Thursday.
“The folks who came together to make this film have my heart, pun intended. And I’m incredibly grateful to them for giving this story life. And we are grateful to Sundance for giving us the opportunity to share it with you all,” Obama said in the video about the project.
“We hope that you enjoy the film and that it makes you feel a bit less lonely or at least reminds you not to forget about the people who are,” she said.
In 2022, actor and producer Donald Glover hired Obama as a writer on his Prime Video series “Swarm.”
“She’s just like, an amazingly talented person,” Glover said of Obama, calling her “really focused.”