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Congratulations for your placement at this high level in our 2025 Feature Retreat & Fellowship Contest during an extremely competitive year!
This is your invitation to our 2025 Feature Retreat. Please read all the information below regarding RSVP-ing.
Retreat Dates & Logistics
When
7:30 pm PT, Friday, October 3rd
to
2 pm PT, Tuesday, October 7th
Where
Idyllwild, CA
(about 2.5 hrs. from Los Angeles)
Silver Pines Lodge,
25955 Cedar St, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549
Who
Writers and industry pros including working producers, managers, writers, agents and development execs.
COVID-19 Vaccination & Testing Requirements
Our top priority is the health and welfare of our writers, mentors, and staff; therefore, we are requiring ALL retreat attendees to comply with the following rules:
You MUST be vaccinated** with an FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine. You MUST submit a proof of vaccination by August 29, 2025 as part of your retreat materials submission.
**"Vaccinated" means you have received the recommended doses of an FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine (e.g., Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax vaccines) no later than August 21, 2025.
You MUST test negative for COVID-19 using an at-home rapid test AND email us a photo of the negative test immediately after getting the results by 5 pm on Thursday, October 2, 2025 before leaving for Idyllwild, CA. You MUST share a photo of the negative test immediately after getting the results.
You MUST test negative again for COVID-19 using an at-home rapid test 15 minutes before retreat check-in at 7 pm, on Friday, October 3rd. You MUST present the negative test at check-in.
Masking is optional except as noted in our heath and safety protocols, which attendees will receive prior to the retreat.
You MUST comply with all our health and safety protocols.
PLEASE NOTE:
If you have any medical reasons for why you cannot get a vaccine, please email us the reasons after you RSVP.
If you were fully vaccinated prior to April 18, 2024, we highly recommend you receive at least 1 updated Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine by or before August 21, 2025.
We recommend that, for at least 5 days prior to attending the retreat, you avoid large gatherings, both indoor and outdoor, and take as many other precautions as possible to avoid potential exposure to COVID-19. This is, however, not mandatory as long as you are vaccinated and are able to show negative COVID-19 results as required by this invitation.
If you are traveling from outside of the United States, we highly recommend you self-quarantine for at least 5 days prior to attending the retreat. This is, however, not mandatory as long as you are vaccinated and are able to show negative COVID-19 results as required by this invitation.
To maintain a COVID-19 safe bubble around retreat participants, you CANNOT attend any other events or large gatherings during the retreat (i.e., from your arrival in Idyllwild on Friday, October 3rd through 2 pm on Tuesday, October 7th, 2025). Anyone who attends events outside of retreat events will not be allowed to return to the retreat.
We have procedures to address the possibility that someone may test positive for COVID-19 at the retreat, which attendees will receive prior to the retreat. Please bring masks and extra at-home COVID-19 rapid tests in case we need to implement those procedures.
We reserve the right to make any changes to the retreat and retreat policies, including changing the retreat from an in-person event to a virtual one, making it mandatory to wear masks indoors or at all times at an in person retreat, enforcing social distancing at an in person retreat, and imposing any other guidance and/or requirements necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at the retreat.
Tentative Retreat Schedule*
*This tentative retreat schedule is subject to change. All times references are to Pacific Time.
Friday, October 3rd
All writers, CineStory staff, and mentors for Saturday morning's programming arrive. NO OTHER MENTORS ARRIVE FRIDAY NIGHT.
7:00 PM
Retreat Screening/Check-in/Registration/Cocktails
7:30 PM - 8:15 PM
Navigating the Retreat
with Cinestory Staff
8:15 PM - 10 PM
Writers Meet & Greet
Saturday, October 4th
8:00 AM - 8:40 AM
Light Breakfast
8:45 AM - 10:30 AM
Workshop:
Writing Captivating Loglines - Groups A - F
10:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Panel:
Writing in an Intersectional World
12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
Mentor & Writer Introductions: Let’s Talk Popcorn Movies
1:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Lunch
2:30 PM – 4:15 PM
Workshop:
How to Write a Compelling Scene - Groups A - F
4:45 PM – 6:15 PM
Mentor One-on-ones
7:30 PM
Opening Night Dinner & Presentation of Awards
Sunday, October 5th
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM
Light Breakfast
9 AM – 10:30 AM
Panel:
I Want to Sign You
10:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Workshop:
Pitching Yourself for Any Project - Groups D-F
11:15 AM - 12:45 PM
Mentor One-on-Ones - Groups A-C
1 PM – 2:30 PM
Group photo followed by lunch
2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Workshop:
Pitching Yourself for Any Project - Groups A-C
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Mentor One-on-ones - Groups D-F
4:45 PM – 6:15 PM
Panel:
Working with Producers & Creative Executives
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Mentor/Fellow Group Discussion
(Free time for everyone except the Fellow)
7:30 PM
Dinner
Monday, October 6th
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM
Light Breakfast
9 AM – 10:30 AM
Mentor One-on-ones - Groups D - F
Exercise:
Photo Finish - Groups A-C
10:45 AM – 12:45 PM
Exercise:
Fly on the Wall - Groups A - F
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Lunch
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Mentor One-on-Ones - Groups A - C
Exercise:
Photo Finish - Groups D-F
4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Workshop:
Breaking a Feature Film - Groups A-F
7:00 PM
Dinner
Tuesday, October 7th
8:30 AM - 8:50 AM
Light Breakfast
9 AM – 11 AM
Workshop:
Identifying Your Personal Thematic - Groups A - F
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Where Do You Go From Here?
12:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Final Lunch
What You Get
3 x 90-minute one-on-one mentor sessions during which mentors, who have read your work beforehand, will discuss their specific verbal notes to your script as well as your career path, your portfolio of work, etc.
Over 19 hours of panel discussions and writing exercises on topics ranging from pitching your work to discovering your personal writing thematic and more;
One-on-one access to working industry professionals who seek to educate attendees on the craft and business of writing for the screen.
3 meals per day (a light breakfast, lunch, and dinner,) and social gatherings with all retreat attendees.**
Please check out information from past retreats on the website. We will also be happy to provide a list of CineStory alums who can answer your questions and talk about their own retreat experiences. In addition, for a peek inside the retreat, you can see clips on our YouTube Channel.
**Please note we cannot guarantee that we can meet special dietary requirements, but we will discuss your needs with you and advise you of our capacity.
Retreat Mentors
Our mentors are successful, dedicated entertainment industry professionals who place a high value on mentorship. In fact, they volunteer their time and efforts to CineStory for free because they so strongly believe in helping to educate emerging writers about the craft and business of writing for the screen. Learning from them is a unique opportunity that you won't find elsewhere.
During the retreat, mentors will candidly discuss the craft and business of screenwriting during our panel discussions and writing exercises. They will also participate in other gatherings like the awards ceremony, cocktail parties, meals, and any other events.
In addition, you will be assigned three professional mentors to work with you individually in the one-on-one mentorship sessions. Each mentor will meet with you during the retreat to work on revising or honing your script, discussing your other projects and goals, as well as discussing which steps to take next to reach the next level of your career. You will receive the names of your assigned mentors closer to the date of the retreat.
Past retreat mentors include: Mark Fergus (COWBOYS & ALIENS, CHILDREN OF MEN, IRON MAN), Hawk Ostby (COWBOYS & ALIENS, CHILDREN OF MEN, IRON MAN), writer/director Joe Forte (FIREWALL, OUT), producer Nana Greenwald (SEVEN), screenwriter MEG LEFAUVE (Pixar’s INSIDE OUT, THE DANGEROUS LIVES OF ALTAR BOYS), screenwriter Philip Eisner (SWEET GIRL, EVENT HORIZON, MUTANT CHRONICLES), and writer/director Keith Gordon (DEXTER, WAKING THE DEAD).
Please visit our Mentors page for a more extensive list of our past mentors. Many mentors attend yearly, so you are likely to see some of the listed mentors at this year’s retreat.
Retreat Submissions & Preparing for the Retreat
By Sunday, August 31st, 2025, you must submit the following materials:
1
Portfolio
A short portfolio, which includes a bio, contact information that you'd like to share with retreat attendees, and synopses / loglines / information regarding your projects. Portfolios will be shared online in a retreat handbook accessible only to writer attendees, mentors, and staff.
2
Scripts / Outlines / Treatments
PDFs of 1 - 2 scripts/outlines/treatments that you would like to discuss during your one-on-one mentor sessions. This may include the script you entered into the contest, or something else altogether - it's up to you. This material is only accessible by mentors and staff. Please note that only feature projects, and no TV projects, will be accepted.
3
Letter of Intent
A short letter of intent for your potential mentors stating what you're looking for in notes, where you are in the project(s) you've submitted, and any other information you feel will enrich the mentorship process. This material is only accessible by mentors and staff.
IN COMING WEEKS
In the coming weeks, we will provide writers who finalize their retreat spots with a submission form to use for filling out the portfolio and uploading the documents listed above.
We will invite you to join our Slack channel, where you may interact with other retreat participants, and also coordinate housesharing and ridesharing.
As we get closer to the retreat, we will also share handouts and exercises to complete before the retreatand conduct an online pre-retreat orientation.
Arrival
Please arrive on Friday, October 3rd, in time for the retreat health screening, check-in, and cocktails at 7 pm.
Accommodations
Idyllwild is a laid back tourist town. As such, there are numerous accommodation options ranging from the luxurious to the rustic.
All writers are responsible for securing their own accommodations. An affordable option is shared house accommodation.
When choosing your accommodation, keep in mind that you won't be in your room very much. It's mostly just a place to lay your head at night.
Getting to Idyllwild
All attendees are responsible for their own transportation.
The closest national airport is Ontario, just over an hour away. You can also fly into Burbank or LAX or Palm Springs, as well as Long Beach International or Orange County John Wayne Airport.
For those coming from LA, in the past writers have enjoyed carpooling as a way to get to know each other before the retreat begins.
FAQs
What does the retreat fee cover?
Your retreat fee covers 4 days of tuition as well as light breakfasts (fruit and cereal), lunches, dinners, drinks, snacks, and special events. At the retreat you will get:
Three 90 minute one-on-one mentor sessions to discuss your script and portfolio submissions, career path, craft etc.
Over 19 hours of panel discussions and writing exercises on topics ranging from pitching your work to discovering your personal writing thematic, and more
One-on-one access to working industry professionals who seek to educate attendees on the craft and business of screenwriting
Writers bear travel and accommodation costs, which are not included in the retreat fee.
Can I defer my retreat spot to another year?
No, unfortunately you cannot defer your spot to another year. Each Feature retreat is tied to a separate Feature contest, so writers earn the right to attend that year's Feature retreat. Thus, you are invited to attend the 2025 Feature retreat because you placed as a quarterfinalist or above in this year's Feature contest.
Can I bring my significant other?
Although there's no bar on bringing loved ones, this event is designed as a concentrated working retreat for THE WRITER, and there is almost no relaxation time. The retreat day starts at 9 am with informal rooms/meetings and often finishes at 10 pm.
We ask that, if you do bring a child, there is also a parent or caregiver to watch over him/her/they as we cannot accommodate children in our sessions. Significant others are welcome to join lunch or evening meals/events; however, there is an additional fee for all meals your guest(s) attend. Further, your guest will have to follow all our health and safety protocols.
Can I talk to past retreat attendees before I RSVP?
Yes, we are happy to put you in touch with our alumni.
When will I know who my mentors will be?
We will release mentor information by Thursday, October 2nd, 2025 at the earliest. We understand that many of you are eager to know who your mentors will be; however, we are unable to provide that information until right before the retreat. Because we are extremely familiar with our mentors’ areas of expertise, we assign writers to mentors who are best suited for the genre of scripts submitted by writers instead of allowing writers to request specific mentors. The pairing process delivers a rewarding experience for everyone and takes a great deal of time and planning. In addition, we often are forced to replace mentors because work commitments arise—sometimes days before the retreat—that prevent them from participating.
To familiarize you with our previous mentors, please see our Mentors page. Many mentors attend yearly, so you are likely to see some of the listed mentors at this year’s retreat.
How many scripts can I submit and will all my mentors read all of them?
You may submit up to 2 manuscripts of the following types:
Feature Screenplays
Feature outlines
Feature treatments
You cannot submit TV manuscripts of any kind, including TV pilots or outlines or treatments of TV teleplays.
The total number of mentors who read your manuscript(s) will depend on the number of manuscripts you submit, as set forth below:
1 manuscript: All 3 mentors will read your manuscript and provide feedback.
2 manuscripts: One of your manuscripts will be read by 2 mentors and the other manuscript will be read by 1 mentor.
What is Zelle? How do I register?
You can learn more about Zelle here.
I do not have Zelle. Can I use a different method of payment?
While our preferred mode of payment is Zelle, if you wish to use a different form of payment, please indicate your preference in the RSVP section. We will make other payment options available.
Contact
For any questions, please email us at info@cinestory.org.
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