Apply now for Spring 2024 retreats!

May 2024 - mentor TBA
June 2024 - mentor TBA

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Each year Nostos Screenwriting Retreat offers four three-week screenwriting workshops taking place in the Tuscan Countryside. Applications are now open for our Spring 2024 retreats.

The retreat gives independent filmmakers from around the world the opportunity to work intensively on their feature-length narrative scripts or their TV Pilots. It consists of a residential workshop and participants also receive individual feedback. The lab is facilitated by a professional in the field. Asides from the guidance provided by the facilitator through workshop sessions and one-on-one meetings, additional professional feedback is given by a guest speaker who trains the writers in the Art of Pitching. Aside from the workshops and the one-on-one sessions, participants have plenty of time for writing on their own. The delicious meals that are provided by our cook are an occasion for the participants to gather and share some social time. All in all, the time at Nostos is a wonderful opportunity to work intensively on one's script while connecting and receiving feedback from other filmmakers in a very inspiring environment.

Awards & Prizes

In total, 8 - 12 writers are selected per retreat. One scholarship winner is chosen per year. The selected writers are invited to join the next available retreat, where accommodation (single or double rooms) in the Tuscan countryside, all daily meals, and of course the three weeks of group workshops and one-to-one mentorship is provided.

Rules & Terms

To apply, send the treatment of your feature script/TV pilot or draft of your current screenplay, along with a logline for the possibility to be selected for this exclusive three-week writing retreat in the Tuscan countryside.

A team of qualified script readers will judge each script and treatment with a point system in different categories.

* Please note that every submission, in every submission category, receives a 500-word review! *

When judging screenplays, these categories include premise-concept, presentation, structure, plot, pacing, dialogue, characters, theme, and style.

For treatments (these must be detailed, 15 to 30 page-long treatments) the readers judge the premise-concept, presentation, and originality of the story.

Your feature script should be no shorter than 60 pages (TV Pilots can be shorter) and no longer than 160 pages. The recommended length is 80 to 125 pages for feature scripts.

* Please note that we only accept English-language submissions.
22 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Julia M. Sauder

    This festival changed my life. The people who ran the retreat were amazing & the hospitality could not be beat. We were so spoiled! The mentors were brilliant. The other writers were outstanding. It was truly an experience that I will treasure always.

    May 2023
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  • Lauren Kent

    I can't say enough about this retreat. Everything from the location and home cooked meals to the skill set of the mentors was incredible, and I made some extremely talented new friends. The daily workshops and one-on-one mentorship sessions helped me hone a project into a polished draft. Would love to go back someday!

    May 2023
    Helpful
  • Eliot Cooper

    Location - Hill above Arezzo Italy on one side and a small village on the other - can't beat it.
    Food - Gormet cook, all meals yummy and healthy.
    Mentors - provided the clarity needed to take screenplays to a high level of what the industry is looking for. Great people who know how to share feedback in a positive manner and very funny story tellers as well.
    Nostos Team - met everyone's needs at the retreat and exploring Italy on the weekends or nearby vineyards in the evening.
    Screenwriters - talented, great stories to be told, some very personal, and all very friendly and willing to help others.

    Lots of time for writing in very peaceful surroundings and also I can't leave out Lalo, the truffle hunting dog, who never got tired of chasing b****. Or the Cat (Tito?) who went missing but turned up based on a Facebook post.

    May 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for the lovely review, Eliot - it was a pleasure to have you develop your script with us at the retreat!

  • Najee Griffin

    Highly satisfied with the submission process and feedback. I appreciate how the judging & analysis of my script was focused on the script's structure, story, audience connection and the potential it has on being produced. The honest feedback I received was a big help & appreciate it so much. Thank you.

    March 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you for your review, Najee! We're really glad our feedback was helpful for you!

  • Nicolae Bogdan Groza

    Good analysis of the script with useful notes.

    March 2023
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    Response from festival:

    Thank you, Nicolae - we're glad our script analysis was helpful for you!