Cypriot Filmmaker Myrsini Aristidou Begins Historic Oscar Campaign

Filmmaker Arrives In United States

Myrsini Aristidou is traveling to the United States to begin a campaign for her debut film Hold Onto Me. The thirty-six-year-old director previously won the audience prize at the World Cinema Dramatic competition during the Sundance Film Festival in Park City. Her movie made history this September by becoming the first submission from Cyprus for what was formerly known as the foreign-language category race.

Director Discusses Limited Resources

Aristidou stated she feels like an underdog because Cyprus is a very small country with limited money to fund the campaign. She admitted having no idea about their chances and noted that her team is doing the best they can despite these constraints. The film follows an eleven-year-old girl named Iris whose summer fun ends when her estranged father returns for his own fathers funeral.

Production Companies Involved

The project was produced by Filmblades and One Six One Films with co-production support from Fredo Pictures and Graal Films. World sales are being handled by Cercamon while the film plays in the Meet the Neighbors plus competition at the Thessaloniki Film Festival. Aristidou returned to her homeland after seven years studying at Pratt Institute and NYU before making this Greek-language movie.