Stowe Story Lab’s Fall Writers Retreat Launched in collaboration with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, Northern Ireland Screen, and Galway Film Fleadh
Date Posted: August 17, 2022
Stowe Story Labs, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland (Screen Ireland), Northern Ireland Screen, and Galway Film Fleadh has announced that they are collaborating to launch the Stowe Story Labs Connemara Writers’ Retreat, to be held at the storied Renvyle House on the dramatic Atlantic Coast of Connemara, County Galway. The retreat will run from 10th – 14th October 2022. Stowe is celebrating its 10th year of offering labs, retreats, and ongoing mentoring to top emerging film and television writers. This is their first year partnering to offer this inspiring, creative event.
The Connemara Writers’ Retreat will be limited to twenty emerging screenwriters and filmmakers. Seven spots will be reserved for screenwriters from the Republic of Ireland and funded by Screen Ireland’s Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme. One spot will be reserved for a screenwriter from Northern Ireland, funded by Northern Ireland Screen. The remaining participant spots will be filled through the Stowe Story Labs competitive application process.
“The skills team at Screen Ireland are delighted to be supporting Stowe Story Labs through this year’s Screen Stakeholders Funding Scheme. This lab will offer emerging Irish screenwriters the opportunity to further develop their creative work through a fantastic programme of activities and support from industry mentors in a unique collaborative environment. Screen Ireland is committed to developing new creative talent and we look forward to seeing the results from the lab,” said Gareth Lee, Skills Manager at Screen Ireland.
Richard Williams, CEO of Northern Ireland Screen said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Stowe Story Labs on this fantastic opportunity for emerging screenwriters and filmmakers. Support for Northern Ireland voices is a key imperative with talent development being a large part of our work. We are confident that participants will come away from The Connemara Writers’ Retreat inspired and galvanised to reach their full potential.”
At Stowe Story Labs retreats, the participants participate in three, one-hour, one-on-one script note sessions with three different top industry mentors; panels and artist Q&As with top industry mentors; and facilitated peer-to-peer script note sessions with carefully built peer groups. The programs are designed with built-in time to write, reflect, and revise. Mentors and participants also share meals and social time. The intent at the retreats is for participants to leave with concrete and actionable script notes and a plan to materially advance their work.
The Connemara Writers’ Retreat will be held at the iconic Renvyle House Hotel and Resort, which sits on the shores of the Wild Atlantic Way in Connemara, County Galway. First opened in 1883, the hotel offers an award-winning restaurant, a private freshwater lake, an Atlantic beach, beautiful walkways and lawns, and gorgeous rooms to make for a unique, catalytic environment to push participants’ stories forward.
“Running a retreat with these partners in this dramatically beautiful corner of Ireland and at this iconic lodge will be a joy and the perfect setting for the work,” said David Rocchio, Founder and Director of Stowe Story Labs. “We hope this is the beginning of a long relationship between us all, and that the Renvyle House and screenwriting will become synonymous,” he said.
In addition to participating in the Connemara Writers’ Retreat, all participants will receive admittance to the 2023 Galway Film Fleadh, including a place in the festival’s annual Screenwriter’s Masterclass. Participants will also receive an application waiver for their projects for the festival’s marketplace, the Galway Film Fair, in 2023. One of the retreat participants will be invited to the 2023 Galway Film Fair to pitch their project to the market’s decision-makers and will receive support from Stowe Story Labs through their Stowe Launch program team to prepare for the Fair. Stowe Launch is an advanced development program for screenwriters.
“We are delighted to partner with Stowe Story Labs to underscore our belief that good writing is still the backbone of the audiovisual industry. We look forward to discovering new writing talent through our partnership and to provide another platform for Stowe Story Lab’s participants to pitch their work,” Miriam Allen, CEO of Galway Film Fleadh, said.
“We are so pleased to partner with the teams at Galway Film Fleadh, Northern Ireland Screen, and Screen Ireland. They all work hard to highlight, nurture, and incubate fantastic storytelling. It will be a true joy collaborating to help artists from across the island of Ireland and around the world develop their projects and expand their horizons by working with like-minded souls. As noted above, we love the Renvyle House, and know it will inspire the participants,” said Rocchio. “I want to especially thank the team at the Galway Film Fleadh, who have worked with us for over a year to help build and launch this program,” he said.
Renvyle House and its environs have been an inspiration for writers, artists, and composers for over 100 years. The Hotel has been a long-standing supporter of the Arts.
“It’s been a pleasure planning this with David Rocchio and Miriam Allen. We know this Writers’ Retreat will be a very rewarding one. We are delighted to have this collaboration of the renowned Stowe Story Labs, the Galway Film Fleadh, Northern Ireland Screen, and Screen Ireland with us this October. It’s a perfect fit for both the writers and the hotel. We look forward to looking after these emerging screenwriters and one day seeing the fruits of their work,” said Renvyle House General Manager, Anne Marie Kelly.
Screenwriters and filmmakers from throughout the Island of Ireland may apply for the Connemara Writers’ Retreat here.
The deadline for applications is Sunday 28th August. Application decisions will be made on a rolling basis and announced on or before Thursday 8th September.
The application requires background on participants and the projects that participants wish to work on at the retreat, as well as writing samples.
