Malia Obama Turns Up at Sundance Film Festival (Exclusive)

Of all the boldfaced names at the Sundance Film Festival, none got people talking like Malia Obama.

The 18-year-old — who until Friday was the first daughter of the United States — turned up at Park City’s Yarrow Theater, where she was spotted Tuesday after attending a screening of the film “Beach Rats,” a drama about an aimless teen who hooks up with older men while entering into a tentative relationship with a young woman.

She was overheard telling a Sundance staffer, “It was interesting,” though it was unclear r if she was talking about the film.

Also Read: Malia Obama to Attend Harvard After Gap Year

Malia, who is taking a gap year before attending Harvard University, has reportedly lined up an internship with Harvey Weinstein, though he wasn’t in sight at the Yarrow on Tuesday.

The potential movie mogul-in-the-making was decked out in a brown goose jacket and green snow hat. Once festival goers realized who was in their midst, she was the subject of immediate, excited chatter.

After eight years in the White House, Malia and her sister, Sasha, are now free to live their lives with less scrutiny than their family encountered when Barack Obama was president. But if her brief appearance Tuesday was any indication, Malia Obama won’t be able to escape fame.

The screening of Eliza Hittman’s “Beach Rats” — a film sure to get a boost from Malia’s attendance — was to be followed by a screening of the documentary “Strong Island.” The documentary, by Yance Ford, is an investigation of racism and injustice. It was unclear if she planned to stay to watch it.

Katie Rich Isn't Alone: 6 More Who Insulted Presidential Kids (Photos)

Over the weekend, "Saturday Night Live" writer Katie Rich tweeted that Barron Trump, who is only 10, might be America's "first homeschool shooter."
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Rich (pictured) was roundly criticized and later deleted the tweet, and her entire profile. She was one of many people over the years who has broken the rule that presidential children should be off-limits.
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In 1950, President Truman wrote a famously angry letter to Paul Hume, who criticized the singing of Truman's daughter, Margaret. "Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens, you'll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below!" the president wrote.
In Hume's defense, Margaret Truman was in her 20s at the time, and declared, "Mr Hume is a very fine critic. He has a right to write as he pleases."
In 1988, Rush Limbaugh called Amy Carter "the most unattractive presidential daughter in the history of the country." His own mother was among the people who called to criticize him.
Did he learn his lesson? Nope. In 1993, Limbaugh pretended to confuse 12-year-old Chelsea Clinton with the White House dog.
In May 2001, after 19-year-old Jenna Bush was accused of trying to use a fake ID to buy booze, the New York Post ran the headline, "Jenna and Tonic."
Soon after, The Onion tried to criticize President Bush's environmental policies by sexualizing his teenage daughter with the headline, "Jenna Bush's Federally Protected Wetlands Now Open for Public Drilling."
Elizabeth Lauten, a spokeswoman for Republican lawmaker, resigned after criticizing Sasha and Malia Obama for not treating a White House turkey pardon with the decorum she felt it deserved.
Before Trump took the oath of office, Rosie O'Donnell publicly wondered whether Barron Trump might be autistic.
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Given the history of animosity between Donald Trump and O'Donnell, the family didn't buy her claim that she was just trying to be helpful. O'Donnell later apologized to Melania Trump.
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It comes full circle: Chelsea Clinton is among those who says people should leave Barron Trump alone.
On Monday, "SNL" suspended Rich indefinitely over the school-shooting tweet.
Making fun of presidential kids is off-limits, but making fun of adult politicians isn't. Here's our look at Inauguation Faces Ranked From Least to Most Miserable.