hˈoʊldɪŋ ðə sˈʌn wʌz nˈɑːmᵻnˌeɪɾᵻd fɔːɹ bˈɛst ʃˈɔːɹt fˈɪlm ænd bˈɛst pɹədˈʌkʃən dɪzˈaɪn æt ðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd θˈɜːtiːn nˈuː zˈiːlənd fˈɪlm ɐwˈɔːɹdz ænd wʌz sᵻlˈɛktᵻd ˌɪntʊ ðə kˈænz fˈɪlm fˈɛstɪvəl ɪnðə ʃˈɔːɹt fˈɪlm kˈɔːɹnɚ ðə sˈeɪm jˈɪɹ.
Holding the Sun was nominated for Best Short Film and Best Production Design at the 2013 New Zealand Film Awards and was selected into the Cannes Film Festival in the Short Film Corner the same year.