CineStory Foundation Feature Retreat and Fellowship
Cinestory Feature
Contact
Los Angeles, CA 90066
Web:
http://cinestory.org
Email:
info@cinestory.org
Report Card |
||
| Overall: |
  |
(4.6/5.0) |
| Professionalism: |
|
(4.3/5.0) |
| Feedback: |
|
(4.5/5.0) |
| Signficance: |
|
(4.5/5.0) |
| Report Cards: |
|
|
|
Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
|
||
Related Contests
Categories
Objective
CineStory is a national non-profit dedicated to nurturing emerging screenwriters through mentorship programs. Winners of our competition have gone on to pen films such as IRON MAN, CAKE, THE CHILDREN OF MEN, BALLAST, KING OF CALIFORNIA and 11:14.
One of the main goals of the CineStory Feature Retreat is to select up-and-coming screenwriters for our four-day intensive program held in the Fall.
THE CINESTORY FEATURE RETREAT
CineStory's Retreat is dedicated to the advancement of great new voices in screenwriting. Retreat attendees are chosen from the top writers of our annual competition, the CineStory Screenwriting Awards. For four days, writers enjoy direct access to working Hollywood professionals.
Past retreat mentors include: Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby (IRON MAN, CHILDREN OF MEN), writer/director Joe Forte (FIREWALL, OUT), producer Nana Greenwald (SEVEN), producer Michelle Sy (FINDING NEVERLAND), producer and former head of Jodie's Foster prod co MEG LEFAUVE (THE DANGEROUS LIVES OF ALTAR BOYS), writer Philip Eisner (EVENT HORIZON, MUTANT CHRONICLES) and writer/director Keith Gordon (DEXTER, WAKING THE DEAD). Show More
Deadline/Entry Fees
Expired. Previous Deadline: 07/05/2026Notification: Quarterfinalists – July; Semifinalists/Invitees – August; Finalists – September; Fellow – Late September.
Eligibility
Any writer without theatrical feature credits and/or who has not made more than $15 000 as a screenwriter.Rules
Please visit http://www.cinestory.org/rules-and-guidelines/ for all rules and guidelines.Awards
GRAND PRIZE: THE CINESTORY FELLOWSHIP
Valued at over $17,000 this prize includes a $10,000 cash award, free meals, board and tuition at the exclusive CineStory Writers Retreat as well as a 12-month mentorship program with two Hollywood professionals hand picked for the winner. The CineStory Fellowship gives writers direct access to Hollywood professionals and has a long track record of success. Prior fellows have optioned material, gained representation and secured writing assignments with the guidance of their mentors. Also included: one-year Script Pipeline Writers Database membership; three-year subscription to Creative Screenwriting; iScript screenplay audio recording; and one-year Scripped PRO subscription.
SECOND PLACE:
Over $1500 in cash and prizes, including $1000 cash.
THIRD PLACE:
Over $1000 in cash and prizes, including $500 cash.
FINALISTS RECEIVE:
Discount on Retreat tuition.
ALL SEMIFINALISTS RECEIVE:
An invitation to the exclusive CineStory Retreat including: Three 90-minute one-on-one sessions with working Hollywood agents, managers, producers, development executives and other pros to discuss the writer's work and career strategy Open access to 15+ hours of small group sessions covering a wide rage of creative and business topics Free film screenings and other events.
Cinestory Feature
Contact
Los Angeles, CA 90066
Web:
http://cinestory.org
Email:
info@cinestory.org
Report Card |
||
| Overall: |
|
(4.6/5.0) |
| Professionalism: |
|
(4.3/5.0) |
| Feedback: |
|
(4.5/5.0) |
| Signficance: |
|
(4.5/5.0) |
| Report Cards: |
|
|
|
Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
|
||
Related Contests
Categories
Contest Comments
You must login to post a comment.
First-time user? Register now to receive FREE email contest updates, news, results, deadline reminders and more. Rest assured, information submitted here is held in strict confidence. MovieBytes never sells or in any way distributes email names or addresses. We promise!
CineStory Foundation Feature Retreat and Fellowship
Contact
Los Angeles, CA 90066
Web:
http://cinestory.org
Email:
info@cinestory.org
Report Card |
||
| Overall: |
|
(4.6/5.0) |
| Professionalism: |
|
(4.3/5.0) |
| Feedback: |
|
(4.5/5.0) |
| Signficance: |
|
(4.5/5.0) |
| Report Cards: |
|
|
|
Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
|
||
Related Contests
Categories
Contest News
CineStory Names 2026 Quarterfinalists
Quarterfinalists have been announced for the 2026 CineStory Feature Screenplay Competition. Quarterfinalists will be offered any open spots to this year’s retreat after the semifinalists, finalists, and winners are invited to attend. Attendees receive three 90-minute one-on-one sessions with CineStory mentors and participate in mentor-led panel discussions and group writing exercises on topics ranging from finding representation to pitching like a pro.
THE 2026 FEATURE RETREAT & FELLOWSHIP QUARTERFINALISTS
(listed alphabetically by title)
ALLIGATOR MOUTH by Kevin McKinley
AMBITION, I FEAR by Matthew Sprosty
AUTOCORRECT by Douglas Stark
AYAT by Samina Saifee
BARON VON STEUBEN (WORKING TITLE) by Jamie Benson
BEYOND THE PALE by Christian Hearn
BIG CITY DREAMS by Chris Desmond
BLACK ROSE by Merridith Allen
BLANK by Shiva Ramanathan
BLUE ON BLUE by Sam Robson
BOOB SWEAT by Nic Cohen Hayley Nash
BORDER TUNNEL by Mark Wasserman
BOYSIE by Daniel Higley
BROKEN by Phillip Roquemore
THE BUCKET HIT LIST by Karen McDermott
BUD AND SANDI LEAVE NEW YORK by Gerard Zarra
CBGB’S FOREVER by Brian O’Connor
THE CHEMISTRY OF ICE by Lisa Hickey
THE CHRISTMAS DO OVER by Kathleen Snider
THE CLEANER by Andy Yang
CLOSING COSTS by David Feldman
COLD DESERT by James Wright
THE CONTROL VARIABLE by Aaron Lieben
COPAGANDA by David Erickson
CORSAIRES OF THE AEGEAN by Petros Paranikas
COVER ME by Stacey Dodge
COWBOY by Alex Mindt Randall Harvey
CUTTHROAT GAMES by J.J. Spaulding
DARKSINK_ by David Fein
DEAD WEIGHT by Theodor Cucu
DEADBEAT DICK by Heather Davis
DETROIT RUN by Odin Ozdil
DEVOTED by L.M. Harter
A DIPLOMAT by Edward Balli
DON’T TOUCH THE GOOD STUFF by Silma Berrada
DRY LAND by Oscar Rodríguez Górriz
FADING GRACE by Hope Hickli
FELT by Ran Jing
FINALE by Kathy Fritz
FINDING FANTASTIC by Heidi Hornbacher
FIRST PERSON VIEW by Jason Pates
FORTUNE & GLORY by Charles Copeland
FOXES NEVER QUIT by Mariana Soto
FREEZER by Jacqueline Hicks
THE GEORGE WASHINGTONS (V2) by Paul Schutte
A GIRL’S GUIDE TO VAMPIRISM by Jack Aupperle
THE GOLD STANDARD by Nicole Dimond
GOOD GIRLS GET FED by Kelly Lou Dennis
GRAVE COMMAND by Evelyn Davis
GREEN RIVER BLUES by Charlie Anderson
GULBADIN by Puspangshu Chowdhury
HEARTMAN by Tiffany Yarde
HUMDRUM by Daniela Di Salvo
HURT PEOPLE by LaDarrion Williams
ICEBLINK LUCK by Natascha Snellman
INTERREGNUM by Mason Gersh
THE INTESTINES by Drew Lichtman
IRIS WRITES POEMS by Nicole Reinert
THE ITALIAN LOVER by Suzanne Griffin
JANET’S WORLD by Kemari Bryant
JUST SAY YES by Christine Hoang
JUST YESTERDAY by James Sereno
KILLER SOUNDTRACK by Jeff Ullman
KIM’S MONEY TREE by Kyung-Ja Lee
THE LANDLORD by Joel Michalak
LIONFISH by James Jimenez
THE LONE STAR by Katherine Douglas
LOST by Benjamin Del Fuoco
LOVE MOTEL by Hyon Jung Lee
MALLWALKERS by Debra Kirschner
MAMA MOMMY by KT Frances Hartline
THE MAN. THE MONSTER. THE SEA by Avi Glick
MENIL AND HER HEART by Isabella Madrigal
MESA VERDE by Sean Jourdan
MESTENGO by Theresa Carey
MY KARATE BAT MITZVAH by Merridith Allen
THE NIGHT CAN’T FIND ME by Michael Kimber
NOTHING YOU CAN SAY by Leanne Milech
NULLIPARA by Megan Spatz
OBLIVIOUSNESS by Jarrett Bens
OFF COURSE by Ann LeSchander
ONCE AND FUTURE SELF by Vanessa Herman
THE OPUS by Derek Nicoletto
ORANGES IN THE WINTER by Leanne Milech
OZZY SAVES by Jordan Thornton
PERFECTLY ABLE by Robert McFalls
PIETRA FREDDA by Matthew Nicholson
PIPE DREAMS by Mojẹri Coker
THE PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR by Mary Conroy
THE PROPER STRANGER by Matthew Zoni
QUNK by Jill Bauer
THE RECKONING by Nick Nelson
RECONSTRUCTION by Eran Barak-Medina
RHETTRIBUTION by Sam Robson
RUNNING IN PLACE by Jude Lutz
RUNT by Dave Kagno
SAPPHIC by Marissa Johnson
SEE YOU SEE ME by Erin Galey
SEEN, THE by Mike Le
SEMAGLUTIDE by Jacob Zorn
THE SEVENTH by Jasper Rashwood
SHAVED ICE GIRL by Jack Aupperle
SHEROES by Betsy Nagler
SICKENING by Jeffrey Schick
SOLVE FOR X AND WHY by Marianne DiMascio
SPACE by Leila McCall
SPOTLIGHTS by Cynthia Damon
SPY ANOTHER DAY by Odin Ozdil
STAN by Dre Larivée
STARS ALSO DIE by Shauna Ray Ratapu
STATELESS by Andy Yang
A STILL, SMALL PAW by James Lantz
STIR IT UP by June Christopher & Michael Clark Haney
STOIBOBO by M. Running Bear Bunch
SUBSTRATE DEPENDENCE by Kevin Sterling
SUNDOWN by Nick Fuller
SWEET LITTLE BABY by Michael Kimber
TENDER YOUNG CREATURES by Emily Brubaker
TESSA, GRANDE by Zoey Sidwell
THERE IS NO LOVE IN THE UNIVERSE by Kate Mellors
THIS INCESSANT FUNERAL by Sandra Shim
THY FIST AND FANG by Bryson Hille
TRAIL CAM by Jesse Moore
THE TRAIL by Ray Gettman Bush
TRAIN TO NOWHERE by Jiacheng Wang
TUESDAY NIGHT DRAGONSLAYER CLUB by Michael Clarke
THE UNHAPPIEST DAY OF HER LIFE by Hayley Nash
UPSTANDING CITIZENS by David McMahon
VANQUISHED by Elliot Harrison
VOLUNTEER-ISH by Sarah Showfety
WENDYBOT by Kasi Brown & Brandon Walter
WILD GODS by Gina Manola
WINTER AMES by Matilda Schulman
WOMAN’S BEST FRIEND by J. Gabriel
ZOETROPE by Nick Hurwitch
Updated: 08/23/2026
CineStory Foundation Feature Retreat and Fellowship
Contact
Los Angeles, CA 90066
Web:
http://cinestory.org
Email:
info@cinestory.org
Report Card |
||
| Overall: |
|
(4.6/5.0) |
| Professionalism: |
|
(4.3/5.0) |
| Feedback: |
|
(4.5/5.0) |
| Signficance: |
|
(4.5/5.0) |
| Report Cards: |
|
|
|
Have you entered?
Submit a Report card
|
||
Related Contests
Categories
Submit Report Card
You must login to read or submit report cards.
First-time user? Register now to receive FREE email contest updates, news, results, deadline reminders and more. Rest assured, information submitted here is held in strict confidence. MovieBytes never sells or in any way distributes email names or addresses. We promise!
