named programs · 2 · from sources
What they call their work
Episodic Lab
Annual program in Nosara, Costa Rica focused on developing original 30- and 60-minute television projects through intensive workshopping, Writers’ Room collaboration, and pitching practice.
October Colony
Month-long residency on Nantucket, MA for emerging screenwriters to develop feature screenplays or television pilots with mentorship and peer feedback in a secluded creative environment.
activities · 2 groups
What they do
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Emerging Filmmaker Support Programs 3 activities
- Episodic Lab for television writersRuns an annual Episodic Lab in Nosara, Costa Rica, offering a fully funded residential program that provides writers with intensive workshopping, development, and pitching experience focused on episodic storytelling.
- Mentorship and professional development services for writers-in-residenceProvides mentorship services during residencies, including script feedback, Writers’ Room workshops, pitching guidance, career advising, and direct engagement with professional mentors such as Charles Randolph and Minhal Baig to support creative and career advancement.
- Residency and mentorship program for emerging screenwritersOperates fully sponsored, month-long residency programs for emerging screenwriters, providing time, space, community, and structured creative environments for immersive work sessions. Programs include retreats on Nantucket and at Almanack Pond Farm, featuring peer feedback, community-building, and mentorship from industry professionals.
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Documentary Film Production 2 activities
- Film and media project developmentDevelops and produces short and feature-length films, including award-winning shorts that screened at Sundance, BFI London Film Festival, and Deauville, and serves as producer or consulting producer on television series and film projects such as The Drowning and The Bedford Diaries.
- Production of narrative films, documentaries, and theaterProduces narrative films, documentaries, and theater productions, including feature films such as Magazine Dreams, Rob Peace, and United Skates, and award-winning stage productions like Stereophonic, Sunset Boulevard, and Streetcar Named Desire, some of which have earned Tony and Olivier Awards.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$183K
Contributions & grants$181K99%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$202K
Program expenses80%
Admin / overhead14%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$119K
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$19K
Cash$89K
Investments$0
Liabilities$8K
Net assets$17K
Liquid reserves5.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +16.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LYDIA CAVALLO ZASA | Executive Dir. | 40 | $70K |
board members · 5
- CHASE PALMER — Director
- DORIS CASAP — Director
- EVANGELINE MORPHOS — Director
- LYNNE BOLTON — Director
- MARK FAMIGLIO — Director
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- Amazon Partner — Writing THE ROBBER for JC Chandor and Amazon.
- Appian Way Partner — Adapting THE OUTLAW OCEAN for Netflix and Appian Way.
- Atlantic Foundation Partner — Pacific Fund, where Emma Canarick serves as Director of Capacity Building, is housed within the Atlantic Foundation.
- Bette Gordon Partner — Served as producer on The Drowning, a film directed by Bette Gordon.
- Blue Heron Festival Partner — Directed this nonprofit festival aimed at fostering new theatrical voices.
- Cary Fukunaga Partner — Adapting the Josh Malerman novel UNBURY CAROL for director Cary Fukunaga.
- Charles Randolph Partner — Mentor who provided guidance and support to writers during the residency.
- Episodic Comedy Colony Partner — Collaborates on episodic comedy programming for screenwriters.
- Focus Features Partner — Developed the screenplay NO BLOOD, NO GUTS, NO GLORY for Focus Features.
- Instagram Partner — Platform used for outreach and engagement
- JC Chandor Partner — Writing THE ROBBER for director JC Chandor and Amazon.
- Kevin Misher Partner — Developed the screenplay NO BLOOD, NO GUTS, NO GLORY for producer Kevin Misher.
- Los Angeles Media Fund Partner — Jeffrey Soros serves as CEO of Los Angeles Media Fund, which produces film, television, and theater projects associated with Almanack Screenwriters.
- Marc Ostrick Partner — Cofounded eguiders.com, a platform recommending online videos, with her partner Marc Ostrick.
- Minhal Baig Partner — Mentor who contributed wisdom and mentorship to writers during the residency.
- Netflix Partner — Adapting THE OUTLAW OCEAN for Netflix and Appian Way.
- New Line Cinema Partner — Co-wrote IT CHAPTER ONE for Warner Bros. and New Line.
- Nosara, Costa Rica Partner — Host location for the annual Episodic Lab, providing a setting for immersive screenwriting development.
- Paramount Pictures Partner — Adapted THE SEARCH FOR WONDLA for Paramount.
- Ridley Scott Partner — Writing and directing a feature adaptation of A NAKED SINGULARITY with Ridley Scott producing.
- Sarah Treem Partner — Alumna of Almanack Screenwriters who has participated in and affirmed the program's supportive, artist-centered environment.
- Scott Rudin Productions Partner — Served as development executive, contributing to project development.
- TNT Partner — Wrote THE ALIENIST for TNT.
- The Cherry Lane Alternative Project Partner — Led this nonprofit initiative dedicated to supporting emerging theater artists and new writing.
- The Civita Film Festival Partner — Headed this festival committed to showcasing and developing new film work.
- The Ensemble Studio Theatre Partner — Led this nonprofit organization focused on developing new plays and playwrights.
- Tom Fontana Partner — Collaborated as consulting producer on The Bedford Diaries, a series executive produced by Tom Fontana.
- Vimeo Partner — Platform used for sharing video content
- Virtual Reality Lab Partner — Partners on virtual reality programming for screenwriters.
- Warner Bros. Partner — Co-wrote IT CHAPTER ONE for Warner Bros. and New Line.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Artistic Freedom Through De-Commercializationmethodology: art_for_arts_sakeBy creating spaces intentionally separated from market demands, screenwriters are able to prioritize original voice and underrepresented narratives, producing culturally significant work because intrinsic motivation and creative autonomy lead to higher artistic integrity.
- Community-Supported Artistic Growthmethodology: community_supported_artistic_developmentBy embedding screenwriters in a supportive community of peers and mentors during residencies, the organization enhances artistic and personal development because collaborative environments stimulate creative momentum and resilience.
- Retreat-Based Creative Developmentmethodology: retreat_based_developmentBy removing screenwriters from commercial pressures and everyday distractions through immersive, nature-based residencies, the organization enables deeper creative focus and risk-taking, leading to more authentic and impactful storytelling because separation from industry norms fosters artistic freedom.
- Structured Mentorship in Residency Programsmethodology: residency_and_mentorshipBy combining dedicated writing time with mentorship and workshops during competitive, fully sponsored residencies, the organization increases the quality and completion of screenwriting projects because guided development accelerates growth at pivotal career stages.