This extraordinary documentary is directed by Tom Shepard and Tina DiFeliciantonio. It charts the experiences of three teenagers who are competing in the Intel Science Talent Search in which 40 finalists have their eye on a $100,000 prize. Each year, over 2000 students enter and hope to capture what has been called "the Junior Nobel Prize." Given the sad fact that American teenagers now rank 24th in the world in math and science competency, this event held in Washington, D.C. gains more prestige every year. It's a forecast of the future of scientific research.

Each of the three students in Whiz Kids to varying degrees demonstrates the qualities held in high esteem by the judges: wonder, curiosity, a love of knowledge, and a yearning to make a difference in the world. Ana Cisrernos is a first generation Ecuadorian-American whose parents are very proud of her passion for scientific research in botany and the roots of plants. They have stood behind her and instilled in her a commitment to do whatever she does with 100 percent involvement. They all hope she can win the Intel Science Talent Search and go on to a major university to study.

Harmain Khan is a very confident and well-spoken young man who arrived in America from Pakistan when he was just a toddler with his mother. They have always been poor, and there is a driven quality animating Harmain's interest in paleontology. He has time for nothing else in his adolescence and dreams of winning a full scholarship to Harvard.

Kelydra Weicker hails from West Virginia where she decided to use science as a tool for the betterment of her community. Her research project involves the study of a toxin dumped into the Ohio River by Dupont, the area's largest employer. She soon finds out that the corporation does not like what she is doing and closes down a local science fair that they had sponsored. Keiydra discovers a way to measure and remove this pollutant from the water. Luckily, she is befriended by a young woman who is more experienced than her is selling her project and talking convincingly about it. Keiydra is an idealist whose zeal for helping her community is inspiring.

Whiz Kids delivers the goods by giving us rounded profiles of these three intense, smart, and talented teen-agers. We empathize with them all as the finalists are chosen and they each must deal with their own destiny.

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