EXCLUSIVE: Dubai-based sales agency Cercamon has acquired worldwide sales rights to Hold Onto Me, the Cyprus-set drama that will world premiere in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition at Sundance.
The film marks the feature directorial debut of Cypriot filmmaker Myrsini Aristidou, an NYU Graduate from Tisch Graduate Film Program. It follows 11-year-old Iris (newcomer Maria Petrova) as she tracks down her estranged father, Aris (played by Dogtooth star Christos Passalis), at a dilapidated shipyard, where a fragile father-daughter bond slowly unfolds. Above is a first clip.
The film is a cross-border production between Cyprus, Denmark and Greece. Cercamon will present the film to buyers at the upcoming EFM Market in the wake of its Sundance premiere.
“At its core, Hold Onto Me is about the fragile beginnings of a bond that never had the chance to grow but might still find its shape,” Aristidou said in a statement. “Though it stems from personal memories, I believe the longing for connection between parent and child is something audiences everywhere can relate to.”
“We fell in love with Hold Onto Me from the moment we saw it,” added Sébastien Chesneau, CEO of Cercamon. “Myrsini Aristidou has crafted a rare film that balances a very authentic, local story with a truly universal emotional core. We are thrilled to partner with her to bring this powerful debut to viewers around the world.”