Lab · Oxbelly
Oxbelly Screenwriters Program
Next call not out yet. Usually closes in January
Free retreat for writer-directors on their second fiction feature. The 2026 deadline was 14 January 2026, with the retreat on 1 to 9 July. 2027 dates are not yet posted; past cycles suggest a January deadline.
- Who can apply
- Writer-directors who have written and directed a debut fiction feature (picture-locked) and are developing their second. Aged 18+, not students. One project; duos considered. No third-party adaptations, family animation or classic documentary.
- Fee
- Free to apply
- What you get
- All costs covered (flights, accommodation and meals) for an 8-day retreat in Messinia, Greece, with writer-director advisors and guests.
- Formats
- Feature, Screenplay
- You hear back
- Finalist interviews in late spring (2026 cycle)
- When it runs
- Early July, Costa Navarino, Greece
- Apply through
- Own site
- Languages
- English
What to send
- Project synopsis
- Writer's statement
- Treatment
- Full script
- Sample of the debut feature
- Mood board (optional)
How to apply
- Check that your debut fiction feature is picture-locked.
- Prepare the synopsis, statement, treatment and script for your second feature.
- Apply on oxbelly.com when the call opens.
Worth knowing
- Resubmissions are accepted.
- Applicants handle their own visas; Oxbelly supplies supporting letters.
Checked against Oxbelly's own page on October 24, 2026. Dates and fees can change, so read their call before you apply.