11-year-old Iris learns her estranged father, Aris, is back in town for his own father’s funeral. Determined to know him, Iris tracks him down to a dilapidated shipyard, where he’s been keeping to himself. What begins as a stubborn attempt to reconnect slowly unfolds into a fragile bond.

Sundance Film Festival 2026 - World Dramatic Competition
Audience Award

Sun 15 - 10:35 AM - CinemaxX 4
Sun 15 - 2:45 PM - Virtual Cinema 8
Mon 16 - 10 AM - Virtual Cinema

Required Viewing

Director & Screenwriter Myrsini Aristidou Cast Christos Passalis, Maria Petrova Cinematographer Lasse Ulvedal Tolbøll Editors Jenna Mangulad, Myrsini Aristidou Composer Alex Weston Production Designer Dimitra Sourlantzi Sound Design Kostas Varympopiotis Producers Myrsini Aristidou, Monica Nicolaidou Co-producers Anders N.U Berg, Konstantina Stavrianou, Rena Vougioukalou Executive Producers Thomas J. Mangan IV, Mark Hollinger Production Company One Six One Films Year 2026 Category Fiction Language Greek Run time 102’ Original title Κράτα Με Sound format 5.1

Myrsini Aristidou is a Cypriot writer-director whose shorts Semele (Toronto, Berlinale Special Jury Prize) and Aria (Venice, Sundance Film Festival) received international acclaim. Her debut feature, HOLD ONTO ME (Κράτα Με), marks her transition into long-form storytelling. She holds a BFA from Pratt Institute and an MFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Coming Soon.

“Reminiscent of Charlotte Wells’ "Aftersun"."
“astute writing and assuredly bittersweet performances take the story into singular, surprising places.” 
“An expression of the purest, most genuine endearment.”
"Unvarnished and truthful."
VARIETY

"A Stunning Portrayal of Wild Girlhood”
"Enthralling performances, strong direction, and sensory filmmaking.”
“Breathes new life into a classic indie premise.”
THE PLAYIST

“A filmmaker bold enough to end her film without any traditional closure. More of that, please.”
“I found myself holding my breath more than once.”
ROGER EBERT

“This gritty, exquisite gem.”
THE CONTENDING

“A profoundly rewarding experience.”
“Strikingly authentic performances.” 
NEXT BEST PICTURE

“A great debut feature film.”
LOUD AND CLEAR

“Aristidou shows remarkable restraint as a storyteller.”
SILVER SCREEN RIOT

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