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Director
Cristina Costantini, Darren Foster
Writer
Cristina Costantini, Darren Foster, Jeff Plunkett
Stars
Jack Andraka, Anjali Chadha, Serena McCalla
Companies
Muck Media
Released
2018-10-19
Runtime
1h 30min
Rating
PG
Genres
Documentary
Countries
USA
Languages
English, German, and Portuguese with English subtitles
Awards
Awards, 15 wins & 9 nominations
Keywords
school,science and technology documentary,science,hormone,high school
Los Angeles TimesKenneth Turan

This infectious and exuberant film wins you over by focusing on the enthusiasm and enviable good spirits of the smart and engaging young people who compete in โ€œthe Olympics of science fairs.โ€

Boston GlobeTy Burr

Most refreshingly, Science Fair illustrates the many different kinds of STEM students out there.

Christian Science MonitorPeter Rainer

Itโ€™s impossible not to be charmed by these students, by their aspirations and idealism, not to mention the fact that one of them, or someone like them, may well end up winning a Nobel Prize. Itโ€™s also impossible not to recognize, although the movie does not make a political point of it, that a goodly percentage of these participants are first- or second-generation immigrants to the United States.

Film ThreatAlan Ng

Structurally, Science Fair is sound. Its a cross-section of human-interest stories is inspiring. The subjects are engaging and worth rooting for. It looks in depth at the processes of competing in a science fair. And the revelation of winners is exciting and nail-biting.

The Hollywood ReporterJustin Lowe

First-time long-form directors Costantini and Foster, working from a script co-written with Jeffrey Plunkett, demonstrate admirable resourcefulness and empathy approaching their diverse teen subjects.

VarietyPeter Debruge

An affectionate and supremely entertaining celebration of the all-American nerd, Science Fair may look like a straightforward super-kid contest doc, ร  la โ€œSpellboundโ€ and โ€œMad Hot Ballroom,โ€ but thereโ€™s a lot more going on behind the scenes of Cristina Costantini and Darren Fosterโ€™s thoroughly researched crowd-pleaser.

Austin ChronicleNo Title

Itโ€™s fine; it works. The future is bright.

Movie NationRoger Moore

Bravo, National Geographic Channel, for flying in the face of the zeitgeist, getting this made and putting it in front of audiences in theaters, and later on TV.

RogerEbert.comMonica Castillo

Science Fair melts your heart almost as soon as it begins, with an emotional clip that went viral of a young winner who is so overjoyed, he cries on stage while holding his award.

The New York TimesTeo Bugbee

Thanks to its lovable subjects, Science Fair nails the presentation, but its research is only surface deep.

Sidewalk Film Festival2018

2018 Winner Best Family Film, Cristina Costantini - Darren Foster

Cleveland International Film Festival2018

2018 Winner FilmSlam Student Choice Award for Best Feature Film, Cristina Costantini - Darren Foster
2018 Nominee Global Health Competition, Cristina Costantini - Darren Foster

News & Documentary Emmy Awards2019

2019 Winner Emmy, Daniel Eilemberg (executive producer) - George Lansbury (executive producer) - Isaac Lee (executive producer) - Keith Summa (executive producer) - Jeff Plunkett (producer) - Cristina Costantini (producer/director) - Darren Foster (producer/director) - Gayle Lynn Fields (line producer) - Jennifer Wood (line producer) - David Lincoln (coordinating producer)

Portland International Film Festival2018

2018 Winner Audience Award, Cristina Costantini - Darren Foster

Sundance Film Festival2018

2018 Winner Audience Award, Cristina Costantini - Darren Foster

SXSW Film Festival2018

2018 Nominee SXSW Chicken & Egg Award, Cristina Costantini
2018 Winner Audience Award, Cristina Costantini - Darren Foster

Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Awards2018

2018 Nominee WAFCA Award

Calgary International Film Festival2018

2018 Winner Audience Award, Cristina Costantini - Darren Foster

VC FilmFest - Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival2018

2018 Winner Special Jury Award, Tom Maroney (editor) - Alejandro Valdes-Rochin (editor)

Sun Valley Film Festival, US2018

2018 Winner Audience Award, Cristina Costantini - Darren Foster

St. Louis Film Critics Association, US2018

2018 Nominee SLFCA Award

Denver Film Critics Society2019

2019 Nominee DFCS Award

Hollywood Music In Media Awards (HMMA)2018

2018 Nominee HMMA Award, Jeff Morrow

Women Film Critics Circle Awards2018

2018 Nominee WFCC Award

Milwaukee Film Festival2018

2018 Winner Women in Film Award, Cristina Costantini
2018 Winner Audience Award, Cristina Costantini - Darren Foster

Critics' Choice Documentary Awards2018

2018 Winner Critics' Choice Documentary Award, Cristina Costantini - Darren Foster

Fairhope Film Festival2018

2018 Winner Jury Award, Quinn Costello - Chris Metzler - Jeff Springer

ZagrebDox2019

2019 Winner Teen Dox Award, Cristina Costantini - Darren Foster

Music City Film Critics' Association Awards2019

2019 Nominee MCFCA Award, Cristina Costantini - Darren Foster - Jeff Plunkett

Columbus Film Critics Association2019

2019 Nominee COFCA Award