Apply by June 1 for the inaugural screenplay incubator from @palmtrees.dev , founded by @funamentals , welcoming writers from Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, South Asia, the Caribbean and Oceania.
Open to writers at every stage of their career, whether this is your first or sixth screenplay, the incubator seeks applicants who are driven by curiosity and rigor.
Selected fellows engage in one-on-one development with story analysts over nine months, followed by a three-week in-person Retreat and includes a first-look opportunity from palmtree’s partner, NEON.
palmtrees and its founder, Funa Maduka are remarkable members of the Oxbelly community - generously engaging with our fellows with such mission-aligned values and expertise and partnering with Oxbelly on the 2025 edition of the Retreat.
We hold deep respect for palmtrees’ thoughtful, form-driven approach to storytelling, their commitment to discipline and depth, and their dedication to protecting the DNA of each story.
Apply by June 1 for this incredible opportunity!
Oxbelly’s Executive Director, Caroline von Kühn, joins this year’s impACT Lab at the Marché du Film as part of its distinguished network of experts.
A cornerstone of the Marché’s impACT initiative, the Lab brings together forward-thinking voices to lead transformative workshops, support emerging producers, and foster international co-production. Through collaboration and dialogue, the impACT Lab provides a unique opportunity for both experienced and emerging professionals to exchange ideas and reflect on the industry’s current landscape - championing a more inclusive, responsible, and diverse film industry.
We’re honored to contribute to a platform that empowers new voices and helps bring meaningful, impactful stories to life.
@cvonkuhn@marchedufilm
A thoughtful reflection of the Oxbelly Retreat from our hospitality partner Costa Navarino, capturing the conversations, community, and creative exchange at the heart of the Retreat. Costa Navarino is the physical and cultural home of Oxbelly in Messinia, and we thank them for their incredible partnership.
Read the full article via the link in our bio
Hospitality Partner: @costanavarino
Words by: @georgetsiros
Photos by: @vangelispatsialos
The Retreat is set within the broader landscape of Messinia, Greece, a region shaped by history, mythology, and the sea. Oxbelly—Voidokilia in Greek—is named after the nearby, naturally circular beach, featured in Homer’s The Odyssey as the site of the earliest written account of hospitality in the Western world. It is within this cultural landscape, where storytelling and hospitality intersect, that Oxbelly was founded.
During the Retreat, fellows and advisors from both programs have the opportunity to step into this landscape through a dedicated field trip, which in 2025 included a visit to the medieval Castle of Methoni.
Photos:
Vangelis Patsialos @vangelispatsialos
Douglas Martin Eveleigh @douglasmartineveleigh
As the open call continues, we’re sharing a glimpse into the 2025 Oxbelly Retreat.
Evening programming brings together all Retreat participants – fellows, advisors and special guests across all programs – for a curated series of readings, screenings, and candid conversations exploring the craft of storytelling across multiple mediums.
Each evening flows into shared, family-style dinners hosted with open seating, extending conversations beyond the program itself. An informal setting—fostering unfiltered exchange, sparking inspiration, and often becoming the place where collaborations are formed and the future of storytelling takes shape at the table.
2025 included conversations, readings, and workshops with Kenzie Allen, Ishmael Beah, Nicole Dennis-Benn, Katie Kitamura, Chigozie Obioma, and Namwali Serpell, alongside a special session on translation with Emily Wilson performing passages from her Iliad translation, in conversation with Fiammetta Rocco.
From the world of film, screenings followed by discussions with the directors included Kleber Mendonca Filho’s THE SECRET AGENT, Jane Campion’s THE PIANO, Richard Linklater’s NOUVELLE VAGUE, Radu Jude’s I DO NOT CARE IF WE GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS BARBARIANS and Dimitris Athiridis’ EXERGUE – ON DOCUMENTA 14.
Sessions on creative process included Annemarie Jacir and composer Ben Frost on their collaboration for PALESTINE ‘36, and a session on visual language in which advisors Ali Abbasi, Annemarie Jacir, and Eskil Vogt shared influential to their work cinematic references, moderated by producer Tanya Seghatchian.
Photos:
Vangelis Patsialos @vangelispatsialos
One more week to apply to the 2026 Oxbelly Retreat, held July 1-9 in Costa Navarino, Greece.
Applications close on January 14, 2026 at 11:59 pm Athens time (EET). There is no cost to apply and all expenses for fellows are covered.
To submit your application, please visit
As the open call continues, we’re sharing a glimpse into the 2025 Oxbelly Retreat and its programs, continuing with the Screenwriters Program, led by Radu Jude.
The Screenwriters Program supports writer-directors developing their second fiction feature films through one-on-one sessions with experienced writer-director advisors during the first half of the Retreat, followed by special sessions dedicated to the creative process with creatives from other fields in the second half.
The program embraces a multidisciplinary approach, inviting established directors, actors, cinematographers, composers, editors, producers, and industry professionals, alongside creatives from theatre, visual arts, and literature—encouraging fellows to broaden their narrative perspective and explore storytelling across forms. Every day, fellows and advisors come together over lunch, extending discussions and welcoming special guests.
The 2025 Retreat program featured special sessions with painter Adrian Ghenie; directors Eva Stefani and Alexandra Matheou; and advisor Michael Almereyda. The evening program welcomed special guests including directors Dimitris Athiridis, Jane Campion, Maura Delpero, and Richard Linklater; composer Ben Frost; producer Emilie Lesclaux; and Olivier Père, Director of Arte France Cinéma.
Advisors for the 2025 Screenwriters Program were Ali Abbasi, Michael Almereyda, Annemarie Jacir, Kleber Mendonça Filho, Tanya Seghatchian, and Eskil Vogt
Photos:
@vangelispatsialos@douglasmartineveleigh
As the open call continues, we’re sharing a glimpse into the 2025 Oxbelly Retreat and its programs, beginning with the Fiction Writers Program, which was led by Program Director Chigozie Obioma and Advisors Ishmael Beah and Namwali Serpell.
The Fiction Writers Program brings together ten emerging writers from around the world, offering the opportunity to engage in workshops and craft sessions, alongside the space and time to write within the serene setting of Costa Navarino.
During the first half of the Retreat, each advisor leads an intimate group of fellows through a series of workshops and one-on-one sessions. The second half of the program shifts into a mini-residency, allowing fellows to immerse themselves in the landscape, produce work, and participate in the closing reading circle—where fellows may share excerpts of their work with the fellows, advisors, and special guests of the program.
Daily lunches bring fellows together with advisors and welcome special guests for further conversation and book signings. Fellows also take part in a dedicated session focused on navigating the literary industry and promoting their work. At the 2025 Retreat, this session—centered on working with an agent and an editor—was led by Emma Shercliff and David Ebershoff. Special guests for the 2025 program also included Kenzie Allen, Nicole Dennis-Benn, Katie Kitamura, Fiammetta Rocco, Emily Wilson, and Gaby Wood.
Photos:
@vangelispatsialos@douglasmartineveleigh
Applicants are invited to attend a live webinar to introduce the application and selection process and to answer any questions, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 6pm Athens time (EET) via zoom.
The webinar will be hosted by Oxbelly Executive Director Caroline von Kühn and Program Manager Carolina Demopoulos. Please register to attend using the form linked in the bio or visit . Registered attendees will receive a zoom link via email on the day of the event.
Applicants are invited to attend a live webinar to introduce the application and selection process and to answer any questions, on Monday, December 8, 2025 at 6pm Athens time (EET) via zoom.
The webinar will be hosted by Oxbelly Executive Director Caroline von Kühn and Program Manager Rosie Diamantaki. Please register to attend using the form linked in the bio or visit . Registered attendees will receive a zoom link via email on the day of the event.
The Screenwriters program supports writer-directors developing their second fiction feature films who are seeking to strengthen their craft and push the boundaries of their unique cinematic voice. The fellows will workshop their scripts through individualized meetings with experienced writer-director advisors and participate in sessions on specific aspects of the creative process.
The Screenwriters program is led by Radu Jude and is held in Costa Navarino July 1-9.
Applications close on January 14, 2026 at 11:59 pm Athens time (EET). There is no cost to apply and all expenses for fellows are covered. To apply and for more information, please visit
The Fiction Writers program supports ten emerging fictional prose writers committed to elevating their craft, strengthening their literary voice, and contributing to intercultural dialogues around storytelling. Fellows will engage in workshops and craft sessions led by faculty and guests who are established and acclaimed writers and industry leaders, followed by unstructured time to write in the serene and transformative environment the Messinian scenic landscape offers.
The Fiction Writers program is led by Chigozie Obioma and is held in Costa Navarino July 1-9.
Applications close on January 14, 2026 at 11:59 pm Athens time (EET). There is no cost to apply and all expenses for fellows are covered. To apply and for more information, please visit
