The Cypriot production Krata Me (Hold Onto Me) has become the first Cypriot feature-length film to be officially selected for the prestigious Sundance Film Festival 2026, the Deputy Ministry of Culture announced.

According to the Deputy Ministry of Culture, the film Krata Me (Hold Onto Me), written and directed by Cypriot filmmaker Myrsini Aristidou, has been selected to compete in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at Sundance 2026, taking place this coming January, where it will also have its world premiere.

The Ministry notes that this marks the first official selection of a Cypriot feature film in the international competition section of the Sundance Film Festival, which is held annually in Utah, United States. Sundance is widely regarded as the largest independent film festival in the U.S., organised by the Sundance Institute, founded by Robert Redford, and is considered a key platform for the presentation and recognition of independent cinema from around the world.

The film Krata Me (Hold Onto Me), the Ministry adds, is the highly anticipated feature-length debut of the award-winning director, who has previously made two acclaimed short films, Semeli (2015) and Aria (2017). Both films were screened at major international festivals, including Venice, Sundance, Toronto, Tribeca, and Berlin.

It is further noted that Myrsini Aristidou is a fellow of the Cannes Cinefondation Residence and a recipient of the Emerging Filmmaker Award from the Sam Spiegel Film Lab. Hold Onto Me is described as her most personal work to date, completing a trilogy that began with Semeli and Aria, which explored different stages of the father–daughter relationship.

According to the announcement, the film follows 11-year-old Iris, who spends her summer with her friend Danae. When she learns that her estranged father, Aris, has returned to Cyprus for her grandfather’s funeral, she decides to seek him out.

The role of Iris is played by 11-year-old Maria Petrova, of Cypriot-Bulgarian descent, who is described as making an impressive cinematic debut. Opposite her stars acclaimed Greek actor, director, and playwright Christos Passalis, known for his roles in Dogtooth, Pity, The Miracle of the Sargasso Sea, and as co-director of The City and the City.

The film was shot entirely in Cyprus with an international creative team and is a Cyprus–Greece–Denmark co-production, with the participation of the United States. It was co-produced with the Department of Contemporary Culture of the Deputy Ministry of Culture of Cyprus, with the participation of the Danish Film Institute, EKOME, ERT, and the Black Family Grant of NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Producers:
Monica Nicolaidou, Myrsini Aristidou, Anders N.U. Berg, Konstantina Stavrianou, Irene Vougioukalou.

Executive Producers:
Thomas J. Mangan IV, Mark Hollinger.

Production Companies:
Filmblades (Cyprus), One Six One Films (Cyprus), Fredo Pictures (Denmark), Graal (Greece), Pleasant Bay Pictures (USA), Mango Productions (USA).