Overview

Residencies are designed to give screenwriters and TV writers the time and space to write and build community in a uniquely CineStory way. The residencies take place over eight days in the beautiful mountains of Idyllwild, California. Participants enjoy private bedrooms, private baths, and three meals per day, plus spaces to write together, meet in small groups, and socialize as a community.

Unlike our retreats, which focus on mentorship and education, our residencies focus on generative writing and community building. Residents devote most of their time to writing, away from the demands of daily life. Every day also includes structured time for generative writing exercises, story breaking sessions, and social time.

Residencies are open to screenwriters and TV writers. 

Residency Dates: June 12 - 19, 2026

Application Deadlines & Fees:

• Early Deadline - January 30, 2026 ($30)
• Reguarly Deadline - February 27, 2026 ($50)

Available Residency Spots: Up to 25 spots.

Residency Information

General

This year's residency takes place on June 12 - 19, 2026 in the beautiful mountains of Idyllwild, California. 

Residents stay in air-conditioned, private rooms with private bathrooms. Wi-Fi is available in all rooms as well as on the main campus, where all meals and group events will be held. There is ample communal writing space on the main campus as well.

Idyllwild itself offers numerous coffee shops and other locations for those who prefer writing in public spaces, as well as hiking trails for residents looking for contemplative outdoor time.

Residencies are different from our retreats, which focus on mentorship and education. Residencies focus on generative writing and community building.

In addition to having plenty of unstructured writing time, residents meet daily in small groups led by experienced CineStory staffers to do writing exercises and story breaking sessions aimed at helping residents develop the project they’ve brought to work on. There are also places to take short, unscheduled breaks throughout the day for those who need a quick breather before diving back into their work. Finally, residents and staffers also gather for meals, games, and socializing.

Residency Fee

The residency fee for 2026 is $3,200.

The residency fee covers three meals per day (continental breakfast, catered buffet-style lunch and dinner), air conditioned, private rooms with private bathrooms, parking (including main campus parking for off campus residents), and all residency events (including group writing exercises, story breaking sessions, games, and socializing).

The residency fee does not cover transportation to and from Idyllwild or transportation while in Idyllwild. Residents are responsible for getting to and from the residency and for getting themselves around Idyllwild. Please note that Idyllwild is a small town and very walkable, and off campus housing is located close by.

Deposit

If you are accepted, you must secure your residency spot by paying a $500 nonrefundable deposit by April 10, 2026.

Housing will be assigned on a first come, first serve basis in the order in which deposits are received.

Residency FAQs

If you have any questions about this application or the residency itself, please check the FAQs at the bottom of our Residencies page. If your question isn't answered there, please feel free to email us at info@cinestory.org.

Application Rules & Guidelines

Eligibility: All TV writers and screenwriters.

Application Deadlines & Fees: 

• Early Deadline - January 31, 2026 ($30 Application Fee)
• Regular Deadline - February 27, 2026 ($50 Application Fee)

Application Materials: Applicants must submit all of the following:                         

• An original feature screenplay or TV pilot that applicants plan to pursue during the residency,** which must meet the formatting and page length requirements below; 
• a logline (up to 150 words) of that original feature screenplay or TV pilot; 
• a short bio (up to 300 words);                         
  • an artist statement (up to 600 words).

    
      **Please note that applicants accepted into the residency may work on any project while at the residency and are not obligated to work on the project submitted with this application.
  
  
  
  
   

Formatting and Page Length Requirements:                         

• All scripts must be PDFs.
• Feature screenplays must be 85 - 125 pages excluding cover page. TV pilots must meet the following page restrictions: 1-hour TV pilots 45 - 65 pages, excluding cover page; single camera TV pilot 22 - 45 pages, excluding cover page; multi-camera TV pilot 52 - 58 pages, excluding cover page, with dialogue double spaced throughout.
• Body pages must be numbered.
• No additional materials, artwork, illustrations etc. should be attached to the script.
• Screenplays must be in English.
• No substituted pages or other revisions to your script will be accepted once you have submitted your application.
   
• Evaluation: CineStory's executive director, creative directors, and residency coordinator make all residency decisions at their sole discretion. Applicants are evaluated primarily on the strength of their TV pilot or screenplay and their artist statement. Applicants who do not satisfy all application rules and guidelines automatically will be disqualified from consideration. CineStory reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to accept fewer applicants than the number of spots available at a residency.
   
• Notification: Accepted writers will be notified via email by early to mid April.
   

All residency application rules and guidelines are subject to change without notice.