Congratulations to Sundiata Enuke ’24 on her film, Jackie, being named “Best U.S. High School Film” at the 2023 Burbank International Film Festival (BIFF). The annual festival, which took place on September 21-24 at the AMC Burbank 16, awarded winners from 28 different categories and genres. Sundiata stood out among just six high school finalists, making this a remarkable achievement.

“We all watched Jackie after it was created in Film II and we were all blown away by it,” said Catherine Dunn, Film and Video Department Chair at Viewpoint School. “Her voice, her passion, what she wants to show about the world, how she wants to change the world just comes through with flying colors.”

"It was incredibly rewarding to see so many people come up to me and express their enjoyment of the film,” said Enuke. “The experience left me feeling fulfilled and inspired, as if I had discovered a whole new network of people who can guide and support me in my future endeavors."

Sundiata's passion for filmmaking and storytelling dates back to her early years when she began putting on productions and shows for her parents at the age of four. As she grew, she honed her skills with software like iMovie and other editing platforms to create videos. However, it wasn't until Tenth Grade when she created Jackie that she realized her long-term commitment to the world of film. Now, she's taking the next step in her journey by actively applying to film schools for college.

"Viewpoint introduced me to the fundamental elements of filmmaking and equipped me with a deeper understanding of what makes a story, well, a story. It gave me the tools to effectively convey my messages,” Enuke shared.

Congratulations to Sundiata Enuke ’24 for this remarkable achievement and we look forward to witnessing her continued success in the future!