Pens to Lens 2026

Join us for the Pens to Lens Student Screenwriting and Filmmaking Competition as it returns for its 10th season in 2026! 🌟

Hosted by Jaclyn Friedlander, this exciting event features red-carpet photos with Darrell Hoemann Photography.

Pens to Lens is a K-12 student screenwriting competition organized in collaboration with:

• 40 North
• Champaign Movie Makers
• Champaign Urbana Design Organization (CUDO)
• Champaign Park District

Local youth write scripts, and area filmmakers select their favorites to produce as actual short films. Designers also create movie posters for the selected scripts. 🎥🎨

The completed films and posters will be showcased at a red-carpet event that honors these talented young screenwriters.

Program runtime: Approximately 2 hours.

📍 Location: 203 W Park Ave, Champaign, IL 61820-3928, United States