Newsroom
A Cypriot film is heading to the glittering slopes of Utah’s Sundance Film Festival, marking a historic moment for the island’s cinema. “Hold Onto Me,” directed by Cypriot filmmaker Myrsini Aristidou, has been officially selected to compete in the festival’s prestigious World Cinema Dramatic Competition, the Deputy Ministry of Culture announced Thursday. The film will also make its world premiere at Sundance in January 2026.
It’s a milestone: this is the first time a Cypriot feature film has been chosen for Sundance’s international competition. Aristidou, already known for her acclaimed short films Semele (2015) and Aria (2017), has shot “Hold Onto Me” entirely in Cyprus with a diverse, international team. The film is a Cyprus-Greece-Denmark co-production, with additional support from the U.S., including NYU Tisch School’s Black Family Grant.
“Hold Onto Me” tells the story of 11-year-old Iris, who spends the summer with her friend Danae. When she learns that her estranged father, Aris, has returned for her grandfather’s funeral, she embarks on a personal journey to find him, a story that completes the trilogy Aristidou began with her shorts, exploring the complex phases of father-daughter relationships.
Aristidou is a Cannes Cinefondation Residence fellow and recipient of the Sam Spiegel Film Lab Emerging Filmmaker Award. Her work has already been celebrated at top festivals, including Venice, Sundance, Toronto, Tribeca, and Berlin. The Deputy Ministry praised “Hold Onto Me” as the director’s most personal creation to date.
For Cyprus, a country with a growing but still small film industry, this selection signals a turning point. Not only does it showcase the island’s landscapes and talent, but it also puts Cypriot cinema firmly on the global stage, attracting international collaboration and attention.
As the Sundance spotlight turns to this intimate story shot in the Mediterranean sun, Cypriot audiences will finally get to see their home woven into a narrative poised for international acclaim, a proud moment for the island’s filmmakers and film lovers alike.
