Malia Obama is making waves in the film world—this time not as a presidential daughter, but as a writer and director with her short film The Heart, which just premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Describing the film in a Sundance video, Obama (credited as “Malia Ann” because, let’s face it, having “Obama” in the credits might be a tiny distraction) called it “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.”
If that sounds intriguing, she went even deeper: “The film is about lost objects, lonely people, forgiveness, and regret. But I also think it works hard to uncover where tenderness and closeness can exist in these things.” Basically, prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions—but the artsy kind.
Premiering as part of Sundance’s U.S. fiction short films lineup, The Heart is already turning heads. Obama hit the red carpet for her Sundance debut, looking every bit the part of a rising filmmaker and proving that she’s much more than just “that kid who once lived in the White House.”
“The folks who came together to make this film have my heart—pun intended,” she quipped. “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.”
And if you’re wondering whether The Heart is going to make you cry—well, probably. But Obama hopes it also brings comfort. “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.” (Cue the collective aww.)
This isn’t her first foray into the entertainment industry—back in 2022, Donald Glover hired her as a writer for his Prime Video series Swarm, proving she’s got more than just a famous last name. “She’s just, like, an amazingly talented person,” Glover said, adding that she’s “really focused.”
With The Heart, Malia Obama is stepping into the indie film world with confidence, creativity, and just a hint of presidential-level storytelling skills. Safe to say, we’ll be keeping an eye on what she does next.
