Cyprus's National Oscar Selection Committee has completed its evaluation for 2026, announcing Hold Onto Me by director Myrsini Aristidou as the country's official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards. The seven-member committee reached its decision in line with the criteria and procedures set by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the United States. The film has already been formally submitted to the Academy ahead of the 99th Academy Awards ceremony, scheduled for 14 March 2027 in Los Angeles.
The announcement
The Department of Contemporary Culture at the Deputy Ministry of Culture announced the decision, stating that the committee had reviewed all films submitted for consideration before selecting Hold Onto Me as Cyprus's first official Oscar entry for this cycle. The Deputy Ministry and the committee extended their congratulations to director Myrsini Aristidou, producer Monika Nicolaidou of Filmblades, and everyone involved in the production.
Production and crew
The film was written and directed by Myrsini Aristidou, with Lasse Ulvedal Tolbøll as director of photography and Dimitra Sourlantzi as production designer. Costume design is credited to Sasja Paludan, with editing by Jenna Mangoulad. The score was composed by Alex Weston. Sound recording was handled by Stavros Terlikkas, with sound design by Christos Kyriakoulis and Aris Louziotis, and mixing by Costas Varybobitis. Colour grading was carried out by Brian Goss, make-up by Ioanna Nika and Giorgos Vavanos, and hair styling by Sotiris Foiniris. Casting was led by Dina Papadaki, Michalis Michaelides and Lydia Georgana. The film is a production of Filmblades and 1.61 Films.
Cast
The cast includes Christos Passalis, Maria Petrova, Aulona Lupa, Jeni Sallo, Nikolas Metaxas and Achilleas Grammatikopoulos.
Awards and recognition
Hold Onto Me has already gathered recognition on the festival circuit ahead of its Oscar submission. The film received the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival 2026, and a special mention for Maria Petrova at the Sofia International Film Festival 2026.
At Cyprus Film Days 2026, it won Best Film, Best Director and the Audience Award. It was also named Best Film at the Los Angeles Greek Film Festival, and separately received the Media Choice Award for Filmmaker along with a performance award for Maria Petrova at an international film festival held in 2026.
The film follows 11-year-old Iris, who learns that her estranged father, Aris, has returned for his own father's funeral. Her need to get to know him leads her to an old shipyard where he lives alone, where an unexpected relationship begins, marked by both tenderness and conflict, that transforms them both.
