Malia Obama made a rare red carpet appearance to promote her short film, The Heart.
The daughter of former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama attended the opening ceremony of the 50th Deauville American Film Festival. She appeared in a Vivienne Westwood outfit.
“I’m so excited. I’ve never done anything like this, so I’m a little terrified, but mostly excited,” the newbie said.
The Harvard alumna’s short film tells the story of a man grieving the loss of his mother as he faces her final request.
“The film is about lost objects, lonely people, forgiveness and regret,” she said in a video. “But I also think it’s trying to find out where tenderness and closeness can exist in those things.” The director added that she hopes the film will help viewers “feel a little less alone, or at least not forget the people who are alone.”
For her directorial debut, Malia Obama chose not to include her famous last name in the film credits. She took the name Malia Ann. Her short film received the New Generation Award at the 50th edition of the American Film Festival.
Earlier this year, The Heart, which Obama also wrote the screenplay for, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
