At Stowe Story Labs, we believe stories have the power to connect, inspire, and transform. We are a Vermont-based nonprofit supporting emerging and established screenwriters, filmmakers, and creative producers.
We provide the tools, mentorship, and community needed to bring stories to life. We help artists develop skills and scripts, build their peer and industry networks, and through it all gain the confidence and ability to move projects forward.
Photo: 2025 June Stowe Narrative Lab participants gather in Vermont. Photo by Jesse Schloff.
2026 Narrative Labs— Application Open
Applications are open for 2026 Narrative Labs, our 4-day, intensive programs that mix presentations, in-conversation interviews and Q&A sessions, carefully built exercises, structured small group sessions (both peer-to-peer and mentor led), and social and networking time. Participants will leave the program with industry skills, next steps to move their film/TV projects forward, and a community of talented peers.
To learn more and apply, click here. The Late Deadline is November 24, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.
Photo: Stowe Story Labs alums and filmmakers Sonia Albert-Sobrino (left) and Miriam Albert-Sobrino (right), on set making short film The Unbearing, written by and starring Stowe's Katerina Eichenberger. The project recently won best international short film at Fancine de Lemos, and was made with Stowe Story Labs fiscal sponsorship. Photo by Daniel Cutts.
2025 $50,000 Curated Short Film Production Grant — Application Open
Applications are open for our Short Film Production Grant Program. Stowe Story Labs will award a grant of $50,000 to support the development, production, and distribution of a short film with a total run time of approximately 10 minutes.
To learn more and apply, click here. The Final Deadline is December 16, 2025 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.
Photo: 2025 Producers’ Lab Participant Maya Korn. Photo by Jesse Schloff.
2026 Online Producers’ Labs — Application Open
Applications are open for Spring and Fall 2026 Online Producers’ Labs, designed for emerging creative producers who are looking to produce their first or second low budget feature film. Participants will leave the program with heightened knowledge, a network of peers and mentors, and a project advancement plan, using insights gained from one-on-one sessions with top industry mentors, structured peer-to-peer time, mentor panels and Q&As, and training on elements of production, including finance, markets, sales, distribution, and more.
To learn more and apply, click here. The Final Deadline is February 2, 2026 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.
About Stowe Story Labs
Founded in 2013, Stowe Story Labs is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit working with screenwriters and filmmakers to help develop skills and projects, with the ultimate goal of helping to get work made and seen.
We do this work through labs, retreats, ongoing mentoring, market experience, and longform online writing programs.
2026 Writers’ Retreats
June 26 - 30
Online Writers’ Retreat
Zoom
September 21- 25
Croatia Writers’ Retreat
Croatia
October 12 - 16
Connemara Writers’ Retreat
Renvyle, County Galway, Ireland
June 5 - 8
Stowe Narrative Lab
Stowe, Vermont
2026 Narrative Labs
September 4 - 7
Stowe Narrative Lab
Stowe, Vermont
April 28 - May 1
Online Producers’ Lab
Zoom
2026 Online Producers’ Labs
October 27 - 30
Online Producers’ Lab
Zoom
The team gathers in Stowe, Vermont for the 2024 Narrative Lab.
Learn More
Read on for Frequently Asked Questions When Applying to Stowe Programs.
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The application is on Submittable. You will need to create an account on Submittable, but it is free to join. Learn more here.
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Yes!
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Yes, we recommend registering your script or copyrighting your script locally, but that will not affect your application.
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When you look at our fellowship page here, you can see which fellowships are for Labs and which fellowships are geared to retreats.
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All Narrative Lab notifications should happen by end of May. All Writers’ Retreat notifications should happen by end of June.
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You can visit Submittable’s help page here to assist any questions that may pop up. If you are still having trouble, please contact Katerina Eichenberger at keichenberger@stowestorylabs.org and title your email “URGENT - Submittable Platform Trouble.”
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We have separate applications for our narrative labs and writers’ retreats. However, when applying for one or both programs, on that same application you will be able to apply for fellowships and scholarships. Be sure to tick the box “yes” that you are apply for fellowships and scholarships, otherwise you will not be in consideration.
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Each project must be vetted separately, so each needs a separate application.
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•Our programs are geared toward Features and TV projects.
•For our Labs, you may submit with a short film, webseries, play, novel, story, etc., that you intend to turn into a feature or a show. You will want to be clear in your application your intent with the work will want to submit material we can use to assess whether you have the capacity to write a well-developed first draft of a script.
•For our Retreats, all applications must include a well-developed, properly formatted, first draft of a feature or TV script.
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We can admit a team of no more than two, and the team may apply with one application. Be certain to list bios/roles/experience for both members of the team.
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Yes!
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Yes! Films that are intended to be filmed in their native language are eligible but for our review purposes it will need to be submitted in English.