About Pens to Lens

Pens to Lens is an annual, Champaign based K-12 student screenwriting competition for East Central Illinois run by the Champaign Urbana Film Society; kids write scripts over February, which are then submitted to Champaign area filmmakers and designers. Designers select scripts to create posters for, and filmmakers pick their favorites to produce as actual short films. The posters and films are presented to the community in a red carpet event to honor the young writers.

Our Mission Statement:

Pens To Lens, a project of the Champaign Urbana Film Society, aims to educate local youth about filmmaking. Pens To Lens is a gateway to learning modern technology, classic artistic concepts, communication through writing and dialogue, and collaboration with peers and mentors. Pens To Lens provides opportunities, tools, and learning resources to the education communities of East Central Illinois and gives a voice to students of all backgrounds. Pens to Lens is a fun way for students to learn and express themselves through the medium of film.

The Champaign-Urbana Film Society is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization!
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help further our mission of providing educational opportunities in the cinematic arts to the residents of East Central Illinois.