Pens to Lens 2026 Gala
August 15 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
$6 – $10
The Pens to Lens Student Screenwriting and Filmmaking Competition is returning for the 10th season in 2026! With mistress of ceremonies Jaclyn Friedlander and 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), and the Champaign Park District.
Local youth write scripts and area filmmakers pick their favorites to produce as actual short films and designers create movie posters for selected scripts. The completed films and posters are presented to the community in a red-carpet event that honors these talented young screenwriters.
Program runtime is approximately 2hrs.
General admission tickets are $10.
Youth (18 and under) tickets are $6.
Purchasing tickets online has an additional fee of $2.
Youth (18 and under) tickets are $6.
Purchasing tickets online has an additional fee of $2.
