Malia Obama Honored with Young Spirit Award at Deauville American Film Festival 2024!

justjared.com:

Malia Obama is being honored! The 26-year-old filmmaker, who is the eldest daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama, presented her short film, and her directorial debut, The Heart at the 2024 Deauville American Film Festival on Friday (Sept.

6) in Deauville, France. While arriving at the event, Malia, who uses the stage name “Malia Ann,” admitted that she isn’t used to doing red carpet interviews. “I’m so excited.

I mean, I’ve never done anything like this … so of course [I'm] a little bit terrified, but mostly just excited,” Malia shared with Paris Match.

During the film festival, Malia was honored with the Young Spirit Award. “For this 50th anniver­sary edi­tion, the Deauville Amer­i­can Film Fes­ti­val want­ed to cel­e­brate the new fig­ures of tomor­row’s cin­e­ma, by award­ing a prize to an emerg­ing tal­ent, spe­cial­ly cre­at­ed for the event,” the film festival wrote on their site. “In this excep­tion­al year, the Young Spir­it Award goes to direc­tor Malia Ann, in her pres­ence, for her first short film, The Heart.” Earlier this year, Malia first screened The Heart at 2024 Sundance Film Festival “The film is about lost objects and lonely people and forgiveness and regret, but I also think it works hard to uncover where tenderness and closeness can exist in these things,” Malia said at the time about her project. “We hope you enjoy the film and it makes you feel a bit less lonely, or at least reminds you not to forget about the people who are.” FYI: Malia is wearing a Vivienne Westwood outfit and Coperni boots.