Oxbelly, the Greek non-profit organisation founded by Christos V Konstantakopoulos, producer and founder of Faliro House, has announced an open call for writers worldwide for the upcoming 2024 Oxbelly Retreat. The programme is set to unspool from 22-30 June in Costa Navarino, Greece.

The Oxbelly Retreat stands as an annual gathering for global storytellers committed to fostering the exchange of thoughts, enhancing craftsmanship and expanding artistic horizons through cross-cultural conversations. At the upcoming 2024 edition, the Oxbelly Retreat presents tailored programmes designed for writers immersed in the realms of film, television and literature. These programmes aim to provide a platform for refining writing skills in collaboration with both mentors and fellow writers, fostering intermedium discussions during interdisciplinary evening sessions.

Each specialised strand is spearheaded by accomplished writers in their respective domains: the Screenwriters programme is overseen by Nicole Perlman, the Episodic Writers programme by Jörg Winger (with guidance from programme advisor Jen Blake) and the Fiction Writers programme by Chigozie Obioma.

Specifically, the Screenwriters programme caters to eight scriptwriters in the process of crafting their second features, aiming to hone their skills and explore the frontiers of their distinctive cinematic expression. This programme predominantly involves individualised sessions with screenwriter mentors and skill-building workshops conducted by seasoned writer, director and producer mentors. The focus remains steadfast on fostering daring narratives and encouraging innovative storytelling.

Additionally, the Episodic Writers programme brings together eight promising writers who are embarking on the creation of their inaugural original series, aiming to leverage the collaborative dynamics of a writers’ room to advance their pilot scripts. At its core, this programme encompasses a number of workshops guided by seasoned screenwriters and showrunners, fostering an environment conducive to experimentation and the exploration of the expansive possibilities of the episodic narrative form.

Finally, the Fiction Writers programme provides support to ten emerging fiction authors dedicated to refining their craftsmanship, amplifying their literary voice and contributing to cross-cultural storytelling dialogues. This initiative entails a string of workshops facilitated by a distinguished faculty of acclaimed writers, complemented by dedicated writing time amidst the serene and picturesque ambiance of Costa Navarino.

The 2024 Oxbelly Retreat programmes are currently accepting applications from all interested candidates until 19 January, and all of the relevant information can be found here. As part of the organisation's continuous dedication to ensuring economic inclusivity for storytellers, there is no application fee, and all costs for the chosen participants will be covered.

The 2024 Oxbelly Retreat is supported by Faliro House, the Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation, and Costa Navarino.