Application are open for the 2024 WIFT Writer's Retreat!
We are thrilled to announce that aspiring and established female and non-binary screenwriters are now invited to apply for the 2024 CinefestOZ and Women in Film and Television (WIFT) AustraliaWriters’ Retreat!
The free program, which will be held from September 1-4 in Western Australia’s South West during the CinefestOZ Film Festival, provides space and time for participants to advance their scripted drama projects with support from industry experts attending the festival.
CinefestOZ CEO Cassandra Jordan said supporting diversity in storytelling was important for the festival – “CinefestOZ prides itself on bringing the best Australian stories to our audiences so we are delighted to have a role in developing and supporting new stories from their inception.”
“Our hope is that the projects supported during the retreat may one day premiere at the festival.”
In previous years, thanks to the festival’s partnership with the U.S Consul General, participants have been connected with US showrunner Alan Poul (Six Feet Under, The Newsroom) and producer Debbie Liebling (South Park, Bridesmaids). Local talent West Coast Visions funded writer Miley Tunnecliffe and script development executive and former BBC script editor Jamey Claffey have previously supported the participants as in-house mentors.
WIFT Australia Chair Liz Tomkins said those who have participated in the retreat to date have gone on to receive further development funding and advance their projects to principal photography.
“In a Screen Australia report released in November 2023, 55 percent of key creative roles were found to be held by women however, industry-wide data collated by the agency suggests female writers were still heavily underrepresented,” Ms Tomkins said. “It’s our ambition through programs like this retreat to correct some of these legacy trends and enabling new voices to be heard.”
Retreat Benefits
- Space and time to focus on writing projects with access to film industry expert
- Luxury private accommodation in Busselton, Western Australia provided by CinefestOZ.
- A free pass to CinefestOZ’s two-day Industry Program, the festival’s annual screen industry conference running from September 5 – 6. The CinefestOZ Industry
- Program is the festival’s annual professional conference consisting of workshops, events and network drinks with industry guests.
- $200 in Coles fuel and food vouchers to cover the cost of travel and meals during the retreat.
Applications for the 2024 CinefestOZ WIFT Australia Writers’ Retreat are now open and close on Thursday 1 August.
