15/12/2023 - A total of 27 international writers working on episodic, fiction and poetry projects participated in the annual, Greek-based retreat in 2023

Earlier this week, Oxbelly, the Greek non-profit organisation established by producer and Faliro House founder Christos V Konstantakopoulos, revealed the roster of participants who took part in the 2023 Oxbelly Retreat. The retreat took place from 3-11 June in Costa Navarino, Greece. This year marked the inception of Oxbelly's Episodic Programme and Writers’ Retreat, with 27 fellows handpicked from a pool of over 1,600 submissions spanning 77 countries. As a show of support for the WGA writers’ strike occurring concurrently in the USA, the organisers deliberately refrained from any press or social-media coverage until now.

The organisation has initiated a call for the 2024 Oxbelly Retreat, which will feature specialised programmes catering to screenwriters, episodic writers and fiction writers (see the news). At the 2023 edition, diverse programmes were offered for writers working on episodic, fiction and poetry projects, and fellows from various corners of the globe were welcomed. Guided by programme director Chigozie Obioma, the Writers’ Retreat provided crucial support to emerging writers in fiction and poetry, dedicated to honing their craft, strengthening their literary expression and fostering cross-cultural conversations through storytelling. Simultaneously, the Episodic Programme backed promising writers aspiring to venture into television careers. It offered an immersive experience encompassing various facets of TV writing, comprising simulated writers' room exercises steered by showrunner advisors and programme advisor Jen Blake.

Oxbelly continued to innovate and improve upon traditional artist programmes by integrating cross-programme opportunities for fellows, advisors and distinguished guests, thereby expanding the writers' networks and encouraging a rich exchange between the literary and television industries. The 2023 Oxbelly advisors boasted an impressive line-up, featuring renowned figures such as Barry Jenkins, Rebecca Makkai, Nadifa Mohamed, Sue Naegle, Fiammetta Rocco, Anuradha Roy, Vera Santamaria, Anna Winger, Jörg Winger, Lulu Wang, Graham Yost and Athina Rachel Tsangari, the long-standing artistic director of the Oxbelly Screenwriters and Directors Labs.

Applications for the 2024 Oxbelly Retreat, scheduled for 22-30 June in Costa Navarino, Greece, will remain open until 19 January, and all of the relevant information can be found here. There are no fees associated with the application process, and all expenses for selected fellows will be covered. The 2024 Oxbelly Retreat is supported by Faliro House, the Captain Vassilis & Carmen Constantakopoulos Foundation, and Costa Navarino.

Here is the list of 2023 Oxbelly fellows:

Akpa Arinzechukwu (Nigeria) – Poetry
Tomàs Bayo Encontra (Spain) – Episodic
Lauren Delapenha (USA/Jamaica) – Poetry
Mazpa Ejikem (Nigeria) – Fiction
Bane Fakih (Lebanon) – Episodic
Njelle Hamilton (USA/Jamaica) – Fiction
Maria Hatzakou (Greece) – Episodic
Onyekachi Iloh (Nigeria) – Poetry
Ioanna Kryona (Greece) – Episodic
Erini Loucaides (Cyprus) – Fiction
Fisnik Maxville (Kosovo/Switzerland) – Episodic
Khaddafina Mbabazi (Uganda) – Fiction
Elisa Mishto (Germany/Italy) – Episodic
Zodwa Nyoni (Zimbabwe/UK) – Episodic
Tochukwu Okafor (Nigeria) – Fiction
Gladwell Pamba (Kenya) – Fiction
James Papoutsis (Canada/Greece) – Fiction
Christopher Radcliff (China/USA) – Episodic
Sheena Raza Faisal (India) – Fiction
Laura Reece Hogan (USA) – Poetry
Hilke Rönnfeldt (Germany) – Episodic
Sid Sagar (UK/India) – Episodic
Angie Sijun Lou (USA/China) – Fiction
Louise Silverio (France) – Episodic
Esther Sun (USA/China) – Poetry
Beru Tessema (Ethiopia/UK) – Episodic
Yasmine Zohdi (Egypt) – Fiction