In a historic moment for Cypriot cinema, Myrsini Aristidou's feature debut, Hold Onto Me, has been selected as the country's inaugural submission for the Best International Feature category at the 99th Academy Awards. This marks the first time Cyprus has ever entered the prestigious Oscar race, a development exclusively revealed by IndieWire.

The film premiered in the World Cinema Dramatic competition at the Sundance Film Festival in 2026, where it earned an award, setting the stage for its groundbreaking Oscar bid. Hold Onto Me tells the poignant story of a young girl named Iris who reconnects with her estranged father, Aris, following a period of youthful rebellion alongside her older friend, Danae.

Director Myrsini Aristidou expressed her profound gratitude and the film's journey, stating, "From winning the World Cinema Dramatic Audience Award at Sundance to becoming Cyprus’ historic first official entry for the Academy Awards, this film has truly persevered against all odds." She further emphasized the personal significance of this achievement: "I am deeply grateful and honored to represent my country with such an intimate story, a debut feature that took many years to realize."

Aristidou is no stranger to critical acclaim, having previously directed the short film Semele, which secured the Special Jury Prize at the 2016 Berlin International Film Festival. Her subsequent short, Aria, benefited from the support of Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Lee and premiered at the 2017 Venice Film Festival. An alumna of prestigious programs like the Cannes Cinéfondation Residence and the TIFF Talent Lab, Aristidou also received the Spiegel Lab’s Emerging Filmmaker Prize.

Cyprus's submission enters a competitive field, with countries having until September 30, 2026, to finalize their entries. The Academy will announce its Oscars shortlists, including the 15 films for Best International Feature, on December 15, following preliminary voting from December 7 to 11. The official 2027 Oscar nominations are slated for announcement on January 21, leading up to the 99th Academy Awards ceremony on March 14, 2027.