Today we’d like to introduce you to Christos Arfanis.
Hi Christos, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Athens, Greece, now working globaly and from a very young age I was drawn to storytelling. I didn’t know if it would be through filmmaking, writing, or journalism. I only knew I needed to create. I started experimenting with short films using a small camera and no budget, teaching myself scripting, directing, and editing. I discovered that what drives me is capturing emotional truth, the moments people don’t say out loud.
As I developed my voice, I also began writing articles and conducting interviews with artists and creators, which introduced me to the entertainment industry from behind the scenes. That dual path, filmmaking and journalism, shaped who I am today.
To support my creative independence, I founded Creative Vision Entertainment, Red Light Independent Films, and CA PRODUCTIONS. Through these companies, I produce films, video content, and creative projects with a focus on narrative depth, minimalism, and authenticity. My short films explore human fragility, silence, and the complexity of relationships.
My journey has never been about following an existing path, rather it has been about creating one. Every project is a reminder that storytelling has power. If a film or a piece of writing stays with someone after the screen goes dark, then I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest challenges has been learning to trust the process. When you start independently, without funding, connections, or a “map”, you need to build everything from scratch. There were moments where projects fell apart, collaborations didn’t work, or people didn’t believe in the vision.
In the beginning, I often felt like I had to prove that I deserved to be in the room.
What helped me push through those moments was discipline and consistency. I learned that talent opens the door, but persistence keeps you in the room. Every setback taught me something about patience, leadership, and protecting my creative voice. Eventually, the right people began to find me, not because I was loud, but because I stayed true to my storytelling values.
Today, I see challenges as redirections, not obstacles.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a filmmaker, screenwriter, and creative director working globaly. I specialize in emotionally driven storytelling narratives built on silence, minimalism, and the emotional tension between characters. Through Creative Vision Entertainment, Red Light Independent Films, and CA PRODUCTIONS, I create films and branded cinematic projects that balance artistic expression with strong narrative identity.
My work focuses heavily on character and emotional authenticity. I’m drawn to intimate stories: two people in a room, a conversation that could change everything, the weight of what remains unspoken. I believe that vulnerability is stronger than spectacle, and truth is more cinematic than any special effect.
I work with minimal setups and small crews, not because of limitations but by choice. Minimalism allows performances to breathe. The fewer distractions there are, the deeper the audience connects. My goal isn’t to impress but to make people feel something real, to create a moment on screen where they forget it’s a film.
I am known for short films such as Painful Smile and Sleepy Night Athens Bright, along with the recent psychological drama Cold Coffee. These projects revolve around emotional transparency, human fragility, and the intimate battles we fight in silence.
On the commercial side, I collaborate with brands and businesses to produce cinematic short-form content that tells a story rather than just sells a product. Whether it’s a film or a branded project, I treat every frame with the same intention: emotional impact.
What I am most proud of is that I built everything independently with no industry contacts, no funding, no shortcuts. Just persistence, resilience, and years of working quietly until the work started speaking louder than I ever could.
What sets me apart is simplicity with emotional depth. I don’t chase perfection but truth. In a world that constantly demands speed, I create work that asks the viewer to slow down, feel, and remember.
At the end of the day, I tell human stories. And if a story stays with someone long after the screen goes dark, then it has served its purpose.
How do you think about luck?
I believe in luck, but I don’t rely on it. Luck might open a door once but discipline is what keeps it open.
In my journey, I’ve experienced both good and bad luck. The “bad luck” showed up early: projects collapsing right before production, collaborators disappearing, ideas getting dismissed because they didn’t fit a formula. At the time, those moments felt like failures. But looking back, they redirected me toward people and opportunities that were a better alignment for my vision.
The good luck showed up only after I started taking real risks. The moment I stopped waiting for permission and began creating independently with my own companies, my own scripts, my own voice, luck seemed to find me. People started reaching out. Collaborations formed. Doors that once felt locked suddenly opened.
But I’ve realized something important: Luck shows up for those already moving.
If you wait for luck to start, nothing happens.
If you move without knowing what’s ahead, you create momentum, and that momentum attracts opportunity.
So yes, luck has played a role in my life. But consistency, resilience, and showing up every single day, even when no one is watching, have played a much bigger one.
Bad luck tested me. Good luck met me halfway. Work carried me the rest of the distance.
Pricing:
- We offer customized proposals for: Nonprofits, Arts/cultural organizations, Long-term collaborations or retainers
- Short Film Screenplay (up to 12 pages): €450 – €1,000
- Script Development: €350 – €1,200 (depending on length & revisions)
- Feature Film Treatment / Pitch Deck: €850 – €2,500
- Commissioned Feature Screenplay (full script): €4,500 – €12,500
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christosarfanis/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristosArfanisFilmmaker/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christosarfanis/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChristosArfanis
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8465634/
Image Credits
Spyros Aronis (Studio Photos), Thanos Georgiou (Behind the Scenes Photos), Vasia Skylakaki (Scriptwriters Guild of Greece Photos)
