The Owl Screenwriting Workshop and Industry Days

The City of Athens, through its Athens Film Office, is excited to announce the return of the 3rd International Screenwriting Workshop, “The Owl,” taking place from October 1 to 4, 2024. This year, the workshop is enriched with the introduction of “The Owl Industry Days” and an innovative “Intimacy Workshop.”

For the third consecutive year, “The Owl” provides a platform for both Greek and international screenwriters who have established their presence in the film and television industries. Participants, selected through an open call, must have previously written at least one film script or several hours of a television series. They will submit a new film or TV script draft that can be shot in Athens or elsewhere in Greece.

Innovative Additions: "The Owl Industry Days" and Intimacy Workshop

This year marks the first time “The Owl Industry Days” will take place concurrently with the workshop, featuring a series of presentations, panels, and discussions focused on Greek fiction productions. The Industry Days are scheduled for October 3 and 4 at the St George Lycabettus Lifestyle Hotel, providing valuable networking opportunities for local professionals.

In addition, as part of the 30th Athens International Film Festival “Opening Nights,” the Athens Film Office will host an “Intimacy Coordination Workshop” led by internationally acclaimed Intimacy Coordinator, Elle McAlpine, known for her work on projects such as Poor Things and The Great. This workshop will take place on October 4 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the “Friends of Music” venue at the Athens Concert Hall, and it is free of charge.

Record Achievements for the Athens Film Office in 2024

As of September 2024, the Athens Film Office has facilitated 28 audiovisual productions for major international networks and platforms including BBC, Amazon Prime, and Netflix, alongside 21 commercials and the latest music video for Coldplay.

This activity has generated over 1,000 jobs within the Greek audiovisual industry and with a spending of €40 million, contributing €150,000 in revenue to the City of Athens.

On June 27 2024, the Athens Film Office, in collaboration with the International Academy of the Emmys, co-hosted the semifinals of the International Emmy Awards in Athens. The event featured 14 Greek directors, actors, and producers voting on six series for Best Comedy, culminating in a glamorous evening at the City Hall.

Workshop and Industry Days Highlights

This year’s workshop will feature 11 esteemed screenwriters from Greece and abroad, who will receive one-to-one mentoring from industry veterans including Marc Lorber, Executive Producer of The Art of Co-Production; Mirela Nastase, Director of Drama at ZDF Studios; and Katie O’Connell Marsh, Executive Producer of Narcos and Hannibal.

The primary goal of “The Owl” is to connect the Greek film and television market with international counterparts, ultimately attracting more international productions to Athens. Notably, eight out of ten scripts presented during the workshop's inaugural year have already been picked up for production.

Sponsors and Support

The international screenwriting workshop is sponsored by the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Center, Creative Greece, AEGEAN, Green Olive Films, Boat Rocker, True North, Foss Productions, Tanweer Productions, Argonauts Productions, Film in Cyprus, and Cosmote TV.

Registration and More Information

For more details about “The Owl” and to register for the Industry Days, please visit:

https://theowl.afo.events/

For the Intimacy Workshop, you can register here