A landmark achievement for Cypriot cinema was recorded on Monday evening, as Hold Onto Me by director Myrsini Aristeidou received the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. The distinction marks the first time a Cypriot, Greek-language feature film has won the top audience prize at the internationally renowned festival.
Award announcement at Sundance
The award was announced at 8:30 pm during the official awards ceremony of the Sundance Film Festival. Festival audiences selected Hold Onto Me from among this year’s programme, granting it the Audience Award, the highest recognition conferred directly by viewers.
A first for Cypriot cinema
Hold Onto Me is the first Cypriot, Greek-language feature-length film to participate in the Sundance Film Festival. Its inclusion in the programme marked a historic moment for Cyprus’s film industry from its initial selection.
Premiere and audience reception
The film had its world premiere earlier this week with a sold-out screening, followed by two standing ovations. It received a warm response from both audiences and critics, according to the organisers.
Recognition for the director and the industry
The Audience Award confirms the strong emotional connection established between the film and viewers. The distinction represents a major international recognition for director Myrsini Aristeidou and for contemporary Cypriot filmmaking, supporting the film’s prospects for further international circulation.