Barack Obama’s Eldest Daughter Debuts as Film Director... Submits Short Film to Sundance Film Festival

Malia Obama (25), the eldest daughter of former U.S. President Barack Obama, has made her debut as a film director. She showcased her first short film at the Sundance Film Festival, an independent film festival in the United States.

On the 19th (local time), U.S. entertainment media outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter, People, and CNN reported that Malia Obama submitted her short film The Heart to the Sundance Film Festival, which opened the day before in Utah. Malia wrote the screenplay and directed the film, which is being screened in the short narrative film category of the festival.

The American entertainment media People posted news about Malia Obama's attendance at the Sundance Film Festival on social networking service (SNS). [Image source=People X account post capture, Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

The Heart tells the story of a son who receives a special request as his late mother's last wish. In an interview video released by the festival, Malia explained, "This film is about lost things, lonely people, forgiveness, and regret," adding, "I tried to reveal places where softness and intimacy can exist within those things." She further said, "I hope this film makes you (the audience) feel a little less lonely, or at least reminds you not to forget who the people around you are." According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film was previously screened at the Telluride Film Festival and the Chicago International Film Festival, where it won an award in the short film category.

In the film credits, she used the name "Malia Ann" instead of her full name as the director. She also attended the red carpet event of the festival held in Park City, Utah. The Sundance Film Festival, which began in 1985, is held annually in January in Park City, Utah. The name "Sundance" comes from the role "Sundance Kid," a real person portrayed by American actor Robert Redford, the festival's founder, in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The festival focuses on low-budget independent films and documentaries, serving as an important gateway for emerging directors and actors.

President Obama delivering his farewell speech. Malia can be seen next to his wife, Michelle Obama.
[Photo by AP Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

Born in 1998, Malia is the eldest of the two daughters of the Obamas. In 2016, the final year of President Obama's term, she graduated from Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC, where she had studied for eight years, and went on to Harvard University, majoring in Visual and Environmental Studies. Malia is building her career as a screenwriter. After interning at HBO in the past, she also worked as a writer for the TV series The Swarm. Recently, she participated in projects with Donald Glover, a singer and actor who performs under the name Childish Gambino.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.