If you’re a celebrity looking to reinvent yourself, the Sundance Film Festival is the ideal venue. Whether you’re a Marvel superhero aiming for indie credibility or a teenage star transitioning into more mature roles, this snowy festival provides the perfect platform to showcase a new direction.
This year, a notable rebranding flew under the radar so smoothly that many Sundance attendees didn’t even realize it had occurred. Had they known, we might have seen a frenzy at one of the usually calm short-film screenings. An 18-minute film titled “The Heart” premiered, credited to a new filmmaker named Malia Ann. This burgeoning director is better known as Malia Obama, the daughter of the former president.
Malia Obama Makes Red Carpet Debut at Sundance Screening for Her Short Film – NBC Connecticut
Now 25, Malia Obama is no stranger to Hollywood. She interned at the Weinstein Company in 2017, studied filmmaking at Harvard, and wrote for the Amazon series “Swarm.” This series was co-created by Donald Glover, who also executive produced “The Heart” and has been mentoring Obama in her burgeoning career. “The first thing we discussed was the importance of making a strong first impression,” Glover told GQ last year. “Being Obama’s daughter means if you make a bad film, it will stick with you.”
“The Heart” follows Joshua, who struggles with guilt and must carry his mother’s preserved heart in a jar, as per her will. His chance encounter with a woman resembling his late mother offers him a shot at closure, teaching him to be kinder to himself.
In a “meet the artist” video released by Sundance, Malia Obama explained her motivation behind this unique, heartfelt story. She hopes her short film “makes you feel a bit less lonely, or at least reminds you not to forget about the people who are.”
