No Man's Land Creative Retreat
Programme
The creative retreat will take place in October 2026 over 5 days in Calabria, Italy, one of southern Italy’s hidden gems.
Perched on a hill overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and nestled between the Apennine Mountains and Italy’s largest national park, you’ll spend your days with up to 9 other select filmmakers, meeting for daily workshops with a decidedly un-industry bent.
Your only daily task will be to focus on serious play, inspiration and fresh perspectives on your most difficult challenges as a creator. The retreat will combine moments of deep connection with nature and one another, and give time and space for the important work you never have time for.
Your days at the retreat will be spent moving between the 18th century home of No Man’s Land, the forests of Parco Nazionale del Pollino, and the natural wonders of Arco d’Enea and the Calabrian shoreline. You’ll enjoy your meals at the local Taverna, at a please-can-I-have-another pizzeria with stunning views of the seaside, and at a local farmhouse where all products are made in-house. Workshops will be led by our special mentor of this year Rachel Leah Jones.
Meet the Mentor
RACHEL LEAH JONES
An Emmy Award-winning documentary director and Producer, Jones has been selected by the European Film Academy, honoured by Cinema Eye, and shortlisted for the Oscars. She’s a five-time Sundance Festival nominee, whose work has screened at leading festivals and been broadcast worldwide.
Jones’ trajectory in the field has spanned three decades and four continents: 500 DUNAM ON THE MOON (2002) ASHKENAZ (2007) TARGETED CITIZEN (2010) GYPSY DAVY ( (Sundance 2012) ADVOCATE (Sundance 2019, Shortlisted for Oscars 2019, Top prizes at Kraków Film Festival, Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, Docaviv, Emmy Award for Best Documentary) COEXISTENCE, MY ASS1 (2026).
In addition to maintaining a prolific career as an activist-artist, Jones, a member of the Documentary Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has collaborated extensively with other filmmakers and worked as a story consultant, directing mentor, and film curator.
How to attend
We're looking for up to 10 select mid-career international filmmakers, curated based on portfolio and fit for this specific edition — artists in need of reconnecting with their art outside the noise of the industry, seeking a slower, more human way to build connections with fellow filmmakers.
It's a chance to disconnect from the business of the world and take a breather in a truly beautiful, quiet place.
Register your interest by filling out the form. As spaces are limited, we need a sense of numbers and attendees by the end of August. Everyone who signs up will receive further details, including costs, exact location, and who else will be attending.