"Beasts of the Southern Wild" is that little indie film that's gotten big, earning four Academy Award nominations, including for Best Actress and Best Director. Those nominees, 9-year-old actress Quvenzhane Wallis and director Benh Zeitlin, are doing the rounds in Washington this week to promote the film before the Oscars later this month.

On Monday afternoon, Wallis and Zeitlin headed to Columbia Heights' Gala Hispanic Theatre for a discussion of the bayou-based flick with Rachel Goslins, executive director

of the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities. Goslins' husband, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski, was also on hand.

On Wednesday, Wallis is headed to the White House for a Black History Month event with first lady Michelle Obama. Obama has invited 80 middle and high school students from the D.C. and New Orleans areas for another discussion moderated by Goslins, this one on the "inspirational themes" of the film.