Cypriot Feature Film 'Hold Onto Me' Secures Spot in Sundance 2026 Competition

The feature-length film originating from Cyprus, titled 'Hold Onto Me' (Greek: Κράτα Με), has officially been selected for the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Directed by Mirsini Aristidou, this inclusion marks a significant milestone: it is the very first full-length Cypriot production ever chosen for the festival's main international competition section.

This groundbreaking selection ensures the film's world premiere will take place during the festival, scheduled to run from January 22nd through February 1st, 2026, in Park City, Utah, USA. It is noteworthy that the 2026 edition will be the final time the Sundance Film Festival is hosted in Park City, as the event is slated to relocate to Boulder, Colorado, starting in 2027. Aristidou’s debut feature is a drama centered on eleven-year-old Iris, who embarks on a journey to locate her estranged father at a remote shipyard, a quest that delves into the fragility of their relationship.

Mirsini Aristidou, who hails from Limassol, has previously garnered acclaim for her short films, specifically 'Semela' (2015) and 'Aria' (2017). These earlier works were showcased at major international film events, including the Venice, Toronto, Tribeca, and Berlin film festivals. 'Hold Onto Me' serves as the culmination of this unofficial trilogy, exploring the distinct phases within a father-daughter dynamic. The principal roles in the film are portrayed by actors Christos Passalis and Maria Petrova.

Financially, the production is a collaborative effort, structured as a co-production between Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, and the United States. Principal photography for the movie was completed during the summer months in the Cypriot cities of Limassol and Nicosia. Aristidou has commented that the choice of an abandoned shipyard as a key setting is symbolic, representing the emotional neglect experienced by the protagonist—a liminal space existing between what has passed and what is yet to come.

The inclusion of 'Hold Onto Me' in the Sundance lineup powerfully underscores the burgeoning growth within Cypriot cinema. This sector has shown considerable advancement since the latter half of the 2010s, partly fueled by robust governmental backing, such as that provided through the Invest Cyprus scheme. This prestigious selection, which places the Cypriot film alongside entries from Lithuania and a co-production from North Macedonia/Slovenia, firmly validates the integration of Cypriot filmmaking into the global independent cinema landscape.