DATES, DEADLINE & FEES
RETREAT DATES
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June 20 – 27, 2025
APPLICATION DEADLINE & FEE
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March 24, 2025
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Application Fee of $25
RESIDENCY FEE
- The residency fee for 2025 is tiered according to housing size and location:
- $3,750, which includes main campus housing in a larger king or queen room (10 rooms available at this rate); or
- $3,500, which includes off campus housing in a king or queen room (11 rooms available at this rate); or
- $3,250, which includes main campus housing in a smaller queen room (3 rooms at this rate).
- Housing at each residency fee level is limited and will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis. See the FAQs on our Residencies page for additional information.
- The residency fee covers 3 meals per day, air conditioned, private rooms with private baths, parking at all residency locations, individual and group writing space, group writing exercises and story breaking sessions, and social gatherings. Residents are responsible for their transportation to and from the residency.
See the FAQs on our Residencies page for additional information.
APPLICATION RULES & GUIDELINES
ELIGIBILITY
TV writers and screenwriters.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Applications are due no later than March 24, 2025 at 5 pm PT.
APPLICATION MATERIALS
Applicants must submit all of the following:
- a short bio (up to 300 words);
- a logline (up to 150 words) for an original TV pilot or feature screenplay they plan to pursue during the residency;
- a PDF of that original feature screenplay or TV pilot meeting the formatting requirements below;** and
- an artist statement (up to 600 words).
FORMATTING REQUIREMENTS
- All scripts must be PDFs.
- Feature screenplays must be 85 – 125 pages excluding cover page. TV pilots must meet the following page restrictions: 1-hour TV pilots 45 – 65 pages, excluding cover page; single camera TV pilot 22 – 45 pages, excluding cover page; multi-camera TV pilot 52 – 58 pages, excluding cover page, with dialogue double spaced throughout.
- Body pages must be numbered.
- No additional materials, artwork, illustrations etc. should be attached to the script.
- Screenplays must be in English.
- No substituted pages or other revisions to your script will be accepted once you have submitted your application.
**Please note that applicants accepted into the residency may work on any project while at the residency and are not obligated to work on the project submitted with this application.
APPLICATION FEE
There is an application fee of $25.
EVALUATION
CineStory’s executive director, creative directors, and residency coordinator make all residency decisions at their sole discretion. Applicants are evaluated primarily on the strength of their TV pilot or screenplay and their artist statement. Applicants who do not satisfy all application rules and guidelines automatically will be disqualified from consideration. CineStory reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to accept fewer applicants than the number of spots available at a residency.
NOTIFICATION
Accepted writers will be notified via email by early April.
All residency application rules and guidelines are subject to change without notice.
CineStory is solely a nonprofit educational organization. It is not a talent representation service of any kind. It does not, nor does it seek to, manage and/or direct the development of writers’ careers in any way. Additionally, it does not, nor does it seek to, procure representation and/or employment of any kind for writers. Its sole purpose is to educate emerging writers about the craft and business of writing for the screen.