Upon seeing tremendous box office success upon its release this past weekend, the First Lady’s new documentary, “Melania,” has been announced as the 2026 Athena Film Festival opening night screening.
“‘Melania’ was really the only option on the drawing board this year,” said one artistic director involved with the project, “I mean, this woman is humble, moral, and fierce, and unlike last year’s film about Angelica Schyler, this one’s subject actually landed the dirty politician. She is the perfect selfless leader to set the tone for the festival.”
Some students, however, are disappointed in this decision, as they have moral qualms with the film. Woak Mobb BC ‘26 expressed outrage, saying that “the documentary has single-handedly silenced the plight of colonialism, systemic oppression, and cultural theft, by outselling Zootopia 2.”
The film is also facing public allegations of propaganda, political insensitivity, and even nefarious box office schemes. Director Brett Ratner, however, is no stranger to allegations and in fact has an impressive track record of eluding them during the #MeToo movement. Mirco-infleuncer Phil M. Bro CC 27’ has publicly defended the film and its director on his LetterBoxd, asserting that “we can not seriously be coming for the man responsible for the third best movie in the world, X-Men 3.”
Although her time as acting president of Columbia University is coming to an end, we at the Fed discern it crucial to include Claire Shipman’s take on this decision: “It’s truly an inspiring story,” she told one reporter, “especially for someone like me, who, despite all odds, will certainly find my way back for an extra term.”
