Another Oscar Contender at the White House: "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

First Lady Michelle Obama will host the cast and crew of "Beasts of the Southern Wild" on Wednesday for what is described as an "interactive student workshop" with 80 middle and high school students from the DC area and New Orleans.

Rachel Goslins, executive director of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, will moderate a discussion about the film in the State Dining Room, with a focus on its production and "the inspirational themes within it that students can apply to their own lives," according to the White House.

Among those expected to attend are Quvenzhane Wallis, who is nominated for and Oscar for best actress.

The White House plans to stream the event on its website. The movie is distributed by Fox Searchlight.

As I have written about before, "Beasts of the Southern Wild" is just the latest Oscar contender to enjoy attention from the highest levels of government. Last week, Vice President Joseph Biden met with "Silver Linings Playbook" star Bradley Cooper and director David O. Russell to discuss mental health. President Obama hosted a screening of "Lincoln" in the White House Family Theater and later had director Steven Spielberg, writer Tony Kushner and star Daniel Day Lewis to the private residence for dinner.