Orvieto Retreat Registration

Leader: Heidi Hornbacher
Concept to Pages (two week program): Sunday, May 23 – Saturday, June 5, 2027
Foundations & Structure (Week One): Sunday, May 23 – Saturday, May 29, 2027
Scenes & Dialogue (Week Two): Sunday, May 30 – Saturday, June 6, 2027

Application Deadline: March 31, 2027

Please note that Week Two Only applications are limited to alumni of PageCraft’s residential labs or Concept To Pages workshop. Applications for Week One and the full two-week program are open to all.

Two-Week Program

Registration: $3,600

Discount for alumni of our residential labs: $400
Early registration discount: $400
Note: For the early registration discount, you must apply by January 10, 2027 and make a prompt deposit upon confirmation of admission.

The registration covers:

  • Coaching, mentoring & tuition (see PROGRAM information).
  • Welcome dinner and farewell dinner.
  • Pickup and dropoff at the Orvieto train station, if required.

One-Week Program

Registration: $2,000

Week 1 discount for residential lab alumni: $150
Early registration discount: $200
Note: For the early registration discount, you must apply by January 10, 2027 and make a prompt deposit upon confirmation of admission.

The registration covers:

  • Coaching, mentoring & tuition (see PROGRAM information).
  • Welcome dinner (week 1 participants) or farewell dinner (week 2 participants).
  • Pickup and dropoff at the Orvieto train station, if required.
  • Week 2 participants only: outline review and feedback session (via Zoom) prior to arrival.

Lodging

Lodging is not included in the rate. Orvieto boasts numerous hotel and AirBnB accommodations to fit any budget; however, the more attractive options tend to book far in advance. You may wish to book an accommodation early, with a free cancellation policy, if you’re even thinking about joining us in Orvieto. We are very happy to help participants arrange lodging and answer any questions.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LODGING OPTIONS HERE

How to Apply

If you are interested, please write to us at [email protected]. Unless you are a PageCraft alumnus, please include a 5-page writing sample in PDF format and brief answers to the questions listed below. We will then schedule a conversation with you, so we can discuss your interest and background.

  1. What is your screenwriting or storytelling experience? (max 75 words)
  2. What is a brief description or logline of the script you would like to rewrite? (max 75 words)
  3. Why does this story matter to you? Why do you want to write it? (max 75 words)
  4. What is your favorite piece of writing advice or mentoring that you’ve received? (max 75 words)
  5. What is a writing note you have received that you disagreed with, and how did you handle it? (max 75 words)
  6. How did you hear about PageCraft?

Once we review your application, we will schedule an informal interview. In addition, we require:

  1. $1,000 deposit within one week of admission.
  2. Additional $1,000 deposit by March 31, 2027 (two-week program participants only).
  3. Balance April 15, 2027 (regardless of date of admission).
  4. Signature of a standard liability waiver (to be provided later) by May 7, 2027.

Method of Payment

Participants will be invoiced through PayPal. If you wish to use a credit card, you can do so through PayPal. For U.S. students we can also arrange to accept checks or money orders. For international students, we can arrange wire transfers, but we ask that students cover the fees.

Cancellation Policy

Before April 1, 2027: payments are refundable net of PayPal fees. On April 1, 2027: 10% of your full registration cost becomes nonrefundable. On April 16, 2027, 25% of your full registration cost becomes nonrefundable. On May 10, 2027, your full registration cost becomes non refundable. We will offer PageCraft credits for costs and revenues we are able to recover, but we cannot guarantee whether or to what extent we will be able to do so.

This is a small retreat that runs on a tight budget with up-front costs, which makes refunds for late cancellations difficult. Please see about travel or personal insurance to cover illnesses and emergencies. Any questions, please talk to us.

Important Notes

  • It is our belief that great writing groups make great progress. We endeavor to ensure that each retreat is filled with adaptable, capable writers who can have a positive effect on one another. We expect all participants to adhere to our Code of Conduct. We reserve the right to refuse any applicant or remove any participant for any reason, including abusive or unkind behavior toward others and failure to respect our venue’s rules, which include an 11pm curfew every night. Our cancellation policy will apply.
  • Participants registering for Week Two only (Outline to Pages) must be alumni of PageCraft’s residential labs or Concept To Pages workshop. We require a completed treatment or detailed story outline approximately 3 weeks in advance of the program and participation in a review session on Zoom with the workshop leader prior to the retreat.
  • Admissions are rolling. Once courses are full, we will maintain a waiting list. Failure to meet any of the deadlines listed above may be construed as cancellation.
  • Students may change the writing project they plan to work on, but they must agree on the switch with the workshop leader.
  • Please note that PageCraft leaders are working writers. It has not yet happened, but there is always the possibility that a leader may be pulled away unavoidably due to the demands of an employer or a creative project. In such an event, we will make every effort to bring in a qualified replacement.
  • If we must cancel a workshop for any reason, we will refund all money paid to us. We suggest not purchasing airline tickets until we confirm all details of the program with you. Other than the registration fee (per the terms of our cancellation policy), we are not responsible for costs incurred by participants or prospective participants (including air fares). We recommend travel insurance.
  • We will do our best to accommodate applicants with reduced mobility, so that all our writers to have happy, healthy, comfortable, and inclusive experiences. However, it is important to understand that there are factors in Italy beyond our control that present challenges. This lab takes place in a medieval Italian hill town, with cobblestones, uneven walking surfaces, stairs, and ancient buildings. The town is largely pedestrian, so participants can expect a lot of walking. Lodging and class venues may not feature elevators, and rarely do you find ramps.
  • Finally, a note about weather and physical comfort. Spring and summer weather can be unpredictable, similar to the east coast of the United States. Rain is possible; heat and humidity are likely. Air conditioning in Italy is still the exception rather than the rule and mosquitos are common.

Win an expenses paid slot in our 2027 Italy screenwriting lab!