Private Project

How to light a cigarette without burning yourself

A young actress reconnects with her ex-boyfriend and tries to have an open relationship with him.

  • Konstantinos Spanoudakis
    Director
    The Canvas
  • Konstantinos Spanoudakis
    Writer
    The Canvas
  • Konstantinos Spanoudakis
    Producer
    The Canvas
  • Dimitris Stamatopoulos
    Producer
    The Canvas
  • Nelly Baritaki
    Key Cast
    "Anna"
  • Stavros Tsoumanis
    Key Cast
    "Thanos"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Πως να ανάψεις τσιγάρο χωρίς να καείς
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    May 14, 2023
  • Country of Origin:
    Greece
  • Country of Filming:
    Greece
  • Language:
    Modern Greek (1453-)
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - New York College, Athens
Director Biography - Konstantinos Spanoudakis

I am a 24 year old film student in Athens, Greece.
Born and raised in Chania, Greece, I've always had a desire to become a filmmaker. I've been self taught the basics from a young age and I am currently taking the next step with my film studies.

During the period of my studies I try to create films that inspire me, improve me as an artist and give me and my team the experience we need to get into filmmaking after college.

This is my second short film, made as my final assignment for my studies.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This film is very personal for me as it originates from a very similar situation I experienced recently. Although at a first glance it seems like a film about an open relationship, in reality this is only the surface, as it is a film about two people who are afraid to express their true thoughts and emotions. Thus they constantly play a game of trying to see beneath the words that cover what is trully meant to be said.

I find this situation very common in any kind of human relationships. The need of acceptance from others is a desire most people fail to recognize and consider as a problem. To me, the process of seeking validation from another person, failing to do so and then realizing that it was never something that we should be looking for in the first place is the core of this film.