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Aurora

a storytelling Retreat 

Craft Your Screenplay Beneath the Northern Lights 


Mefjord Brygge, Senja, Northern Norway
Sunday 25 – Saturday 31 January 2026

Aurora

a storytelling Retreat 

Craft Your Screenplay Beneath the Northern Lights 


Mefjord Brygge, Senja, Northern Norway
Sunday 25 – Saturday 31 January 2026

A Week to Stop Chasing Time —and Start Telling Your Story

 

What if you finally gave yourself the space and guidance to take your story seriously?


That feature film, TV pilot, or hybrid of truth and fiction you’ve been carrying—what if you could move it from idea to shape in just one focused week?

Aurora is your chance to get professional mentorship, practical tools, and clarity, so your story moves forward with momentum and confidence. 

Join us at Mefjord Brygge, Senja, Northern Norway, from Sunday 25 – Saturday 31 January 2026, and immerse yourself in a week designed to bring your story to life.

 

I'm Ready!

Tell me if this sounds familiar…

You sit down to write, but the page stays blank. The scenes, characters, and ideas you’ve carried for years feel tangled or incomplete.

Even when you steal a quiet hour, your mind races with emails, errands, and commitments that refuse to wait.

You’ve tried writing in fragments, juggling notebooks, notes on your phone, or late-night bursts of inspiration—but progress is slow, and it never feels enough.

You often work alone, without honest feedback or encouragement, making it hard to know if your story has shape or direction.

The frustration, creative blocks, and isolation can leave you drained and stuck in a loop of starting and stopping, wondering if your project will ever reach its potential.

If it feels like I’ve read your mind, it’s because…

I’ve been there too!

 

Hi, I’m Ingvill, the organiser of the Aurora Retreat. I know what it’s like to have a story simmering inside, only for life to keep getting in the way!

I’ve carried stories for years that I never felt I had the space or guidance to write. Workshops, online courses, and solo writing sessions helped a little—but never gave me the clarity or momentum I needed to truly move forward.

That’s why I created Aurora: a week where the world pauses, and your story finally takes center stage. 

In the quiet of Senja, under the Northern Lights, you’ll reclaim time for your story, get incredible mentorship to help shape your work, and connect with a community that understands the creative journey.

I'm in!

IMAGINE…

…waking up to snow-dusted mountains, fjords stretching to the horizon, and the Northern Lights shimmering overhead.

You spend your mornings in intensive workshops with internationally experienced writers, directors, actors, and story coaches.

Afternoons are yours to write, uninterrupted, as your ideas take shape.

You share ideas with a small, intimate group of fellow creators who understand your process, your doubts, and your excitement.

By the end of the week, your story is no longer a fragment or a half-formed idea. You’re leaving with clarity, momentum, and confidence in your story and your voice.

 

Your Week at Aurora

 

Over six transformational days, your story takes center stage!

Each morning, you’ll focus, refine, and advance your story — so by day’s end, you’ll see real results in your draft.

Afternoons are dedicated to focused writing sessions, where you put what you’ve learned into action and see your story grow in real time.

 

Here’s what your story-building journey looks like...

 

 

  • Sunday, January 25 – Arrival & Welcome

    • Check-in at Mefjord Brygge
    • Welcome dinner and group introductions

 

  

  • Monday–Friday, January 26–30 – Daily Structure

    • 08:00–09:00 – Breakfast

    • 09:30–12:30 – Intensive, hands-on sessions led by Stéphanie Joalland. You’ll explore story spine, character arcs, world-building, and thematic depth. Every session is designed to move your story from fragmented ideas to a coherent, compelling draft.

    • 12:30–14:00 – Lunch break

    • 14:00–16:00 – Afternoon Guided Writing & Feedback Sessions – Time dedicated solely to writing, with guided feedback sessions where your story gets real-world shaping. You’ll see your ideas develop scene by scene, making tangible progress each day.

    • 16:00–19:00 – Free time for optional wellness moments like sauna, jacuzzi, or walks through Senja’s dramatic landscapes. Recharge your mind while your story continues to grow. Optional excursions such as Northern Lights Safari or Arctic Boat Safari can be booked directly at Mefjord Brygge.

    • 19:00 – Group dinner
       


Integrated Mentor Masterclasses

During the week, these interactive sessions with our mentors are built into your schedule, giving you direct, hands-on guidance to develop your characters, scenes, and story structure.

    • Masterclass with Actor Rune Temte: Bringing characters to life from an actor’s perspective

    • Masterclass with Director-Producer Sean McConville: Where do you go from here?

    • Mentoring sessions with Writer Cathleen Young: Scene crafting, structure, and narrative voice

       
  • Friday Evening – Closing dinner and open mic night

 

  • Saturday, January 31 – Departure

 

By the end of the week, you won’t just have worked on your story—you’ll have a clear, actionable plan for moving it forward, along with concrete tools and strategies to continue developing it long after the retreat.

Sounds great - I'm in!

Meet Your Mentors

You’ll be guided by four industry-leading creatives, each bringing decades of experience in writing, directing, acting, and coaching. Their combined expertise will help you shape your story with precision, depth, and confidence, giving you insights you won’t get anywhere else.

Workshop leader

Stéphanie Joalland is a film producer and writer-director with a love of genre, especially the supernatural and sci-fi. Originally from France, she studied filmmaking at UCLA and now lives in London, where she co-founded Frenzy Films 

Her feature film THE QUIET HOUR is on Netflix and her projects have won prestigious international accolades. Among them, her award-winning climate-change related project ICE is a co-production with the Nordic Countries. She regularly lectures at the University of Cambridge and NFTS.

Having spent half a year in Norway as an Erasmus student, she couldn't resist the appeal of the Northern Lights - this time to guide you at Aurora!

Stephanie will help you identify the core of your story, create a clear structure, and turn your ideas into a polished outline or draft that could realistically move toward production. You’ll leave knowing exactly what the next steps are for your project, equipped to move forward with confidence, and with a clear plan to turn your ideas into a strong, production-ready draft.

Guest Masterclass

Rune Temte is a renowned Norwegian actor and producer, celebrated for his commanding presence and versatile performances across film, television, and stage.

Internationally recognized, Rune has appeared in major productions such as Captain Marvel, Time Bandits and the acclaimed series The Last Kingdom. Beyond acting, Rune is known for his dedication to storytelling, mentoring emerging talent, and championing powerful, character-driven narratives.

At Aurora, Rune will guide you in developing characters actors can embody and crafting dialogue that feels authentic on screen, giving you practical approaches to bring your story to life.

Guest masterclasses 

Sean McConville is a British/Irish producer-writer-director and co-founder of Frenzy Films. After working on studio movies such as STAR WARS: THE PHANTOM MENACE and James Bond movies GOLDENEYE and TOMORROW NEVER DIES, he obtained an MA in screenwriting from the London College of Communication and studied screenwriting at UCLA. His feature film DEADLINE starred Brittany Murphy and Thora Birch, sold all around the world and premiered on Sky Cinema. He produced THE QUIET HOUR which is now on Netflix. His upcoming genre feature project, THE LAST MOON, was selected for the Marché du Film "Fantastic 7" this year at Cannes. He is a Berlinale Talents and Cannes Producers Networks alumnus.

At Aurora, Sean will show you how to take your story from concept to a detailed, production-ready outline, with practical tools for pitching, character arcs, and story development. 

Guest Masterclass

Writer Cathleen Young started her career at City News Bureau in Chicago.  Her TV credits include: The Young & Restless, MacGyver and Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman. She wrote over a dozen network television movies including ABC’s Hallmark Hall of Fame’s, “A Place for Annie” with Sissy Spacek, which won The HUMANITAS Prize. Her children’s book, THE PUMPKIN WAR, from Penguin Random House, won The Christopher Award. She is currently working on her first play and her second children’s book.

At Aurora, Cathleen will help you shape key scenes, refine your story’s structure, and provide practical tools to bring your ideas and characters to life.

This is for you if…

You have a story that’s ready to be shaped — whether a feature film, TV pilot, or hybrid narrative, & want professional guidance to bring it to life.

You’ve struggled to make progress on your own — juggling life, deadlines, and ideas without clear feedback or structure.

You want to leave with a concrete plan and confidence — a story outline, strong scenes, & tools to keep moving forward with clarity.

Invest in Your Story: Workshop + Mentorship


Aurora is a focused, immersive week where every detail—from the workshops to the meals—is designed to give you clarity, momentum, and professional guidance.

Here’s all the details on pricing and accommodation & how you can make it your own:

Workshop Fee

€800

What you get:

  • Six days of intensive story development and mentorship

  • Hands-on guidance from internationally experienced mentors

  • Access to masterclasses and scene-level feedback

  • Tools and strategies to move your story forward during and after the retreat

Accommodation: Private Room

€168/night → €1008 total

  • Single occupancy, ensuite bathroom

  • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included

  • Peace and privacy to focus fully on your story

Book NOW

Accomodation: Shared Apartment

€127/night → €762 total

  • Private bedroom in a shared apartment with two other participants

  • Shared bathroom, kitchen, and living area

  • Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included

  • Connection and collaboration with fellow writers in a supportive environment

Book NOW

Secure your spot with a deposit

€500

Not sure which option to go for, but want to hold your spot at Aurora?

Book your retreat space with a deposit today, and take until December to decide on your preferred accommodation option!

hold my spot!

What You'll Gain...

 

Investing in Aurora isn’t just paying for  workshops — it’s a week designed to give your story space, focus, and momentum. By the end of the retreat, you’ll leave with:

  • A clear story roadmap: Identify the core of your story, refine its structure, and know the actionable next steps to move your project forward.

  • Characters and scenes that resonate: Develop characters with depth and scenes that feel alive, guided by hands-on mentor feedback.

  • Focused creative momentum: Dedicated writing sessions let you put what you’ve learned into action, making measurable progress each day.

  • Professional insights you can apply: Gain practical tools and techniques from experienced industry mentors to strengthen your writing craft.

  • A supportive creative network: Connect with fellow writers who understand your process, offering encouragement and collaboration.

  • Inspiration from your surroundings: Let Senja’s dramatic landscapes and the Northern Lights energize your imagination and focus.

This week is more than a retreat — it’s an investment in your story, your craft, and your confidence as a writer.

 

Come join us, under the Northern Lights!

 

Join the retreat

Background photo: Vegard Olsen

FAQs

Got more questions?

If you're interested in joining us at Aurora, but have questions that we haven't answered above, please just drop me a message and I would be happy to talk you through ALL the details, to make sure this is a great fit for you!

Ingvill

Drop your question below!