PARK CITY, Utah — Nothing gets in the way of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – not even a government shutdown.

On Saturday, fans of the tireless freshman congresswoman were sorely disappointed to learn that she wouldn't be at this weekend's Sundance Film Festival premiere of "Knock Down the House," a new documentary chronicling the congressional campaign of she and three other female hopefuls. On Twitter, Ocasio-Cortez cited "complications" from the government's recent reopening for her absence, adding that "this film was made, with love, for people."

So imagine moviegoers' surprise Sunday evening when director Rachel Lears announced that Ocasio-Cortez would participate in a post-screening Q&A via web conference, joined by fellow doc subjects Amy Vilela, Cori Bush and Paula Jean Swearengin in person.

"This is my first time seeing (the film) in its final form and I'm still recovering from the tears myself," Ocasio-Cortez said, her beaming face projected across the MARC theater. "But I'm just so glad that this moment for the four of us was captured and documented. Not just for the personal meaning of it, but for everyday people to see that yes, this is incredibly challenging and yes, the odds are long, but also yes, that it's worth it. Each and every person who submits themselves to run for office is doing a great service to this country."

"House" was ecstatically received by audience members, many of whom were in tears and gave multiple standing ovations. The uplifting film provides an intimate look into what it's like running a grassroots political campaign, going door to door with Ocasio-Cortez as she humbly asks future constituents for donations and arranges impromptu town-hall meetings with her fellow Bronxites.

It also helps humanize the 29-year-old progressive, a regular punching bag for conservatives and the only person brave enough to challenge now-former New York representative Joe Crowley, who served 14 years unopposed.

"Everybody said we couldn't do it," Ocasio-Cortez says in the film. "We had like 2 dollars in December and now look where we are: April 2018, we're on the ballot."

The most heartbreaking moments are when Ocasio-Cortez talks about her late dad, who died of lung cancer while she was in college. Five days after winning her congressional seat last year, she visited Washington D.C. and reminisced about a trip they took to the nation's capital when she was a young girl.

"He pointed at everything and said, 'This all belongs to us,' " says Ocasio-Cortez, who comes from Puerto Rican descent. "The last thing my dad ever told me was, 'Make me proud.' And I finally think I did."