Ugly Cry
Summary
When Delaney's boyfriend leaves town to shoot a splashy zombie movie, she becomes obsessed with a character she’s auditioning for after she learns the producers think she has an "ugly cry." But when she tries to make her cry prettier, her performance suffers. Can she contort herself, and her face, to have the perfect cry? Her attempts to change herself cause Young Delaney to haunt her, catapulting present day Delaney deeper down the rabbit hole. She isolates herself and grows increasingly delusional, and interested in physical fixes to her acting problem. How can she make the world see her as she sees herself? How can she become and become and become? She will become famous. Or die trying.
- Format: Narrative Feature
- Category: Narrative Feature
- Event Type: screening
- Presented By: n/a
Contributors
- Emily Robinson
Raw Event JSON
Large nested arrays are compacted for page readability. Full payload remains in dataset files.
Open JSON payload
{
"id": "FS19444",
"track": "Narrative Spotlight",
"focus_area": null,
"category": "Narrative Feature",
"event_id": "FS19444",
"event_type": "screening",
"format": "Narrative Feature",
"genre": "Comedy\rHorror\rThriller",
"subgenre": "Health/Disability/Illness\rThe Arts/Theater\rWomen",
"name": "Ugly Cry",
"presented_by": null,
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00.000-06:00",
"reservable": true,
"reservable_id": "FS19444",
"reserved": false,
"date": "2026-03-12",
"end_time": "2026-03-12T20:19:00.000-05:00",
"start_time": "2026-03-12T18:45:00.000-05:00",
"message": null,
"image": {
"alt_text": "Ugly Cry",
"credit": "",
"url": "https://images.sxsw.com/Zuevj8f-htBuaDIRfWiqKLZ06o0=/950x633/images.sxsw.com/183/d4cb6fa3-35db-7f45-6ffe-4531087e4c68/ugly-cry-354878"
},
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
],
"contributors": [
{
"id": 87688,
"company": null,
"credential_types": [
"filmtv"
],
"entity_id": 2249915,
"name": "Emily Robinson",
"speaker_types": [
"Director"
],
"title": null,
"image": {
"alt_text": "Emily Robinson",
"credit": "Mayan Toledano",
"url": "https://images.sxsw.com/BD--eqT6jcS1GSrHGNUWWSq7rio=/600x600/images.sxsw.com/180/98b6066b-d0d8-47f3-f379-3e36fde5785e/emily-robinson-354878"
},
"speaker_type": "Director",
"details": "Emily Robinson is a writer, director, and SAG Award-nominated, Special Drama Desk Award-winning actor known for her work in \"Eight Grade\", \"The Year Between\", \"Private Life\", \"Edge of Everything\", and \"Transparent\".\n\nShe is thrilled that her directorial debut feature film, \"Ugly Cry\", is making its premiere here at SXSW. Her short films have screened at numerous festivals, such as LA Film Festival, Outfest, and Frameline. \n\nHer debut novel, \"Consumed\", was published in 2023. \n\nRobinson holds a B.A. in Creative Writing from Columbia University.",
"links": {
"instagram": "https://www.instagram.com/emilyrobinson/"
},
"type": "person"
}
],
"venue": {
"accessible": false,
"age_policy": null,
"floor": null,
"id": "V2213",
"indoor_outdoor": "INDOOR",
"name": "Alamo Lamar 7",
"parent_id": "V0549",
"parent_venue_name": "Alamo Lamar",
"venue_entry_info": null,
"formats": null,
"location": {
"address": "1120 S Lamar Blvd.",
"lat_lon": [
30.2561977,
-97.7635717
],
"city": "Austin",
"postal_code": "78704",
"state": "TX",
"name": "Alamo Lamar"
},
"root": {
"accessible": null,
"age_policy": "All Ages",
"floor": null,
"id": "V0549",
"indoor_outdoor": "INDOOR",
"name": "Alamo Lamar",
"parent_id": null,
"parent_venue_name": null,
"venue_entry_info": null,
"formats": null
},
"events": "[omitted 5 venue events]"
},
"description": null,
"accessibility": [],
"accessible_venue": false,
"add_bcl_url": false,
"add_slido": false,
"age_policy": null,
"american_sign_language": false,
"apple_url": null,
"audio_description": false,
"caption_url": null,
"closed_captioned": false,
"cpe_credit": false,
"has_subtitles": false,
"hash_tags": [
"#uglycrymovie"
],
"high_sensory_experience": false,
"live": false,
"long_description": "When Delaney's boyfriend leaves town to shoot a splashy zombie movie, she becomes obsessed with a character she’s auditioning for after she learns the producers think she has an \"ugly cry.\" But when she tries to make her cry prettier, her performance suffers. Can she contort herself, and her face, to have the perfect cry? Her attempts to change herself cause Young Delaney to haunt her, catapulting present day Delaney deeper down the rabbit hole. She isolates herself and grows increasingly delusional, and interested in physical fixes to her acting problem. How can she make the world see her as she sees herself? How can she become and become and become? She will become famous. Or die trying.",
"meeting_url": null,
"meeting_url_live": false,
"mentorly_url": null,
"mobile_audio_url": null,
"open_captioned": false,
"playlist_tag": null,
"rebroadcast": false,
"recommended_ids": [],
"search_conversions": null,
"short_program": false,
"slido_url": null,
"sort": "UGLY CRY",
"source": "Official",
"squad_up_url": null,
"stream_embed": null,
"stream_id": null,
"stream_url": null,
"strobe_warning": false,
"subdiscipline": null,
"summit": null,
"summit_display_name": null,
"tags": [
{
"id": 2134,
"name": "Mental Health",
"created_at": "2020-02-03T17:19:28.811-06:00",
"updated_at": "2026-02-17T20:47:34.482-06:00",
"sort": "MENTAL HEALTH",
"alpha": "M"
},
{
"id": 950,
"name": "Storytelling",
"created_at": "2016-11-04T11:43:51.305-05:00",
"updated_at": "2024-02-05T16:58:21.488-06:00",
"sort": "STORYTELLING",
"alpha": "S"
}
],
"talent_attending": null,
"title_only": false,
"track_display_name": null,
"trailer_id": null,
"trailer_url": null,
"video_on_demand": null,
"vimeo_id": null,
"vod": false,
"xr_project_type": null,
"youtube_id": null,
"films": [
{
"id": "354878",
"entity_id": 2249913,
"name": "Ugly Cry",
"runtime": "94",
"premiere_type": "World Premiere",
"theme": "Narrative Spotlight",
"category": "Narrative Feature",
"language": "English",
"production_year": 2025,
"program_flag": false,
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00-06:00",
"description": "When Delaney's boyfriend leaves town to shoot a splashy zombie movie, she becomes obsessed with a character she’s auditioning for after she learns the producers think she has an \"ugly cry.\" But when she tries to make her cry prettier, her performance suffers. Can she contort herself, and her face, to have the perfect cry? Her attempts to change herself cause Young Delaney to haunt her, catapulting present day Delaney deeper down the rabbit hole. She isolates herself and grows increasingly delusional, and interested in physical fixes to her acting problem. How can she make the world see her as she sees herself? How can she become and become and become? She will become famous. Or die trying.",
"logline": "An actor loses their dream role because of their \"ugly cry\" causing them to spiral down the dark and dangerous path to perfection.",
"long_description": "When Delaney's boyfriend leaves town to shoot a splashy zombie movie, she becomes obsessed with a character she’s auditioning for after she learns the producers think she has an \"ugly cry.\" But when she tries to make her cry prettier, her performance suffers. Can she contort herself, and her face, to have the perfect cry? Her attempts to change herself cause Young Delaney to haunt her, catapulting present day Delaney deeper down the rabbit hole. She isolates herself and grows increasingly delusional, and interested in physical fixes to her acting problem. How can she make the world see her as she sees herself? How can she become and become and become? She will become famous. Or die trying.",
"genre": [
"Comedy",
"Horror",
"Thriller"
],
"country_of_origin": [
"United States of America"
],
"presenters": [],
"events": [
{
"id": "FS19446",
"track": "Narrative Spotlight",
"focus_area": null,
"category": "Narrative Feature",
"event_id": "FS19446",
"event_type": "screening",
"format": "Narrative Feature",
"genre": "Comedy\rHorror\rThriller",
"subgenre": "Health/Disability/Illness\rThe Arts/Theater\rWomen",
"name": "Ugly Cry",
"presented_by": null,
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00.000-06:00",
"reservable": true,
"reservable_id": "FS19446",
"reserved": false,
"date": "2026-03-12",
"end_time": "2026-03-12T20:19:00.000-05:00",
"start_time": "2026-03-12T18:45:00.000-05:00",
"message": null,
"thumbnail": {
"alt_text": "Ugly Cry",
"credit": "",
"url": "https://images.sxsw.com/BK6ravzTtmFD_hlBudAwKeTX_ro=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/488c343b-5050-8970-b0b3-49e744f00687/ugly-cry-354878"
},
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
],
"venue": {
"accessible": false,
"age_policy": null,
"floor": null,
"id": "V2336",
"indoor_outdoor": "INDOOR",
"name": "Alamo Lamar 2",
"parent_id": "V0549",
"parent_venue_name": "Alamo Lamar",
"venue_entry_info": null,
"formats": null
}
},
{
"id": "FS19444",
"track": "Narrative Spotlight",
"focus_area": null,
"category": "Narrative Feature",
"event_id": "FS19444",
"event_type": "screening",
"format": "Narrative Feature",
"genre": "Comedy\rHorror\rThriller",
"subgenre": "Health/Disability/Illness\rThe Arts/Theater\rWomen",
"name": "Ugly Cry",
"presented_by": null,
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00.000-06:00",
"reservable": true,
"reservable_id": "FS19444",
"reserved": false,
"date": "2026-03-12",
"end_time": "2026-03-12T20:19:00.000-05:00",
"start_time": "2026-03-12T18:45:00.000-05:00",
"message": null,
"thumbnail": {
"alt_text": "Ugly Cry",
"credit": "",
"url": "https://images.sxsw.com/BK6ravzTtmFD_hlBudAwKeTX_ro=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/488c343b-5050-8970-b0b3-49e744f00687/ugly-cry-354878"
},
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
],
"venue": {
"accessible": false,
"age_policy": null,
"floor": null,
"id": "V2213",
"indoor_outdoor": "INDOOR",
"name": "Alamo Lamar 7",
"parent_id": "V0549",
"parent_venue_name": "Alamo Lamar",
"venue_entry_info": null,
"formats": null
}
},
{
"id": "FS19449",
"track": "Narrative Spotlight",
"focus_area": null,
"category": "Narrative Feature",
"event_id": "FS19449",
"event_type": "screening",
"format": "Narrative Feature",
"genre": "Comedy\rHorror\rThriller",
"subgenre": "Health/Disability/Illness\rThe Arts/Theater\rWomen",
"name": "Ugly Cry",
"presented_by": null,
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00.000-06:00",
"reservable": true,
"reservable_id": "FS19449",
"reserved": false,
"date": "2026-03-14",
"end_time": "2026-03-14T16:49:00.000-05:00",
"start_time": "2026-03-14T15:15:00.000-05:00",
"message": null,
"thumbnail": {
"alt_text": "Ugly Cry",
"credit": "",
"url": "https://images.sxsw.com/BK6ravzTtmFD_hlBudAwKeTX_ro=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/488c343b-5050-8970-b0b3-49e744f00687/ugly-cry-354878"
},
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
],
"venue": {
"accessible": false,
"age_policy": null,
"floor": null,
"id": "V2336",
"indoor_outdoor": "INDOOR",
"name": "Alamo Lamar 2",
"parent_id": "V0549",
"parent_venue_name": "Alamo Lamar",
"venue_entry_info": null,
"formats": null
}
},
{
"id": "FS19448",
"track": "Narrative Spotlight",
"focus_area": null,
"category": "Narrative Feature",
"event_id": "FS19448",
"event_type": "screening",
"format": "Narrative Feature",
"genre": "Comedy\rHorror\rThriller",
"subgenre": "Health/Disability/Illness\rThe Arts/Theater\rWomen",
"name": "Ugly Cry",
"presented_by": null,
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00.000-06:00",
"reservable": true,
"reservable_id": "FS19448",
"reserved": false,
"date": "2026-03-14",
"end_time": "2026-03-14T16:49:00.000-05:00",
"start_time": "2026-03-14T15:15:00.000-05:00",
"message": null,
"thumbnail": {
"alt_text": "Ugly Cry",
"credit": "",
"url": "https://images.sxsw.com/BK6ravzTtmFD_hlBudAwKeTX_ro=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/488c343b-5050-8970-b0b3-49e744f00687/ugly-cry-354878"
},
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
],
"venue": {
"accessible": false,
"age_policy": null,
"floor": null,
"id": "V2213",
"indoor_outdoor": "INDOOR",
"name": "Alamo Lamar 7",
"parent_id": "V0549",
"parent_venue_name": "Alamo Lamar",
"venue_entry_info": null,
"formats": null
}
},
{
"id": "FS19454",
"track": "Narrative Spotlight",
"focus_area": null,
"category": "Narrative Feature",
"event_id": "FS19454",
"event_type": "screening",
"format": "Narrative Feature",
"genre": "Comedy\rHorror\rThriller",
"subgenre": "Health/Disability/Illness\rThe Arts/Theater\rWomen",
"name": "Ugly Cry",
"presented_by": null,
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00.000-06:00",
"reservable": true,
"reservable_id": "FS19454",
"reserved": false,
"date": "2026-03-15",
"end_time": "2026-03-15T16:34:00.000-05:00",
"start_time": "2026-03-15T15:00:00.000-05:00",
"message": null,
"thumbnail": {
"alt_text": "Ugly Cry",
"credit": "",
"url": "https://images.sxsw.com/BK6ravzTtmFD_hlBudAwKeTX_ro=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/488c343b-5050-8970-b0b3-49e744f00687/ugly-cry-354878"
},
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
],
"venue": {
"accessible": false,
"age_policy": null,
"floor": null,
"id": "V1926",
"indoor_outdoor": "INDOOR",
"name": "Violet Crown 2",
"parent_id": "V0560",
"parent_venue_name": "Violet Crown Cinema",
"venue_entry_info": null,
"formats": null
}
},
{
"id": "FS19455",
"track": "Narrative Spotlight",
"focus_area": null,
"category": "Narrative Feature",
"event_id": "FS19455",
"event_type": "screening",
"format": "Narrative Feature",
"genre": "Comedy\rHorror\rThriller",
"subgenre": "Health/Disability/Illness\rThe Arts/Theater\rWomen",
"name": "Ugly Cry",
"presented_by": null,
"publish_at": "2026-02-04T14:00:00.000-06:00",
"reservable": true,
"reservable_id": "FS19455",
"reserved": false,
"date": "2026-03-15",
"end_time": "2026-03-15T16:34:00.000-05:00",
"start_time": "2026-03-15T15:00:00.000-05:00",
"message": null,
"thumbnail": {
"alt_text": "Ugly Cry",
"credit": "",
"url": "https://images.sxsw.com/BK6ravzTtmFD_hlBudAwKeTX_ro=/950x950/images.sxsw.com/197/488c343b-5050-8970-b0b3-49e744f00687/ugly-cry-354878"
},
"credentials": [
{
"name": "Platinum Badge",
"type": "platinum"
},
{
"name": "Film & TV Badge",
"type": "filmtv"
}
],
"venue": {
"accessible": false,
"age_policy": null,
"floor": null,
"id": "V1928",
"indoor_outdoor": "INDOOR",
"name": "Violet Crown 4",
"parent_id": "V0560",
"parent_venue_name": "Violet Crown Cinema",
"venue_entry_info": null,
"formats": null
}
}
],
"tags": [
{
"id": 2134,
"name": "Mental Health",
"sort": "MENTAL HEALTH",
"alpha": "M",
"created_at": "2020-02-03T17:19:28-06:00",
"updated_at": "2026-02-17T20:47:34-06:00"
},
{
"id": 950,
"name": "Storytelling",
"sort": "STORYTELLING",
"alpha": "S",
"created_at": "2016-11-04T11:43:51-05:00",
"updated_at": "2024-02-05T16:58:21-06:00"
}
],
"links": {
"instagram": "https://www.instagram.com/uglycrymovie/"
},
"video": {},
"video_on_demand": null,
"contacts": [
{
"label": "Public Film Contact",
"name": "Pablo Feldman",
"company": "More Avenue",
"email": "[email protected]"
},
{
"label": "Publicity Contact",
"name": "Katherine Matthews",
"email": "[email protected]"
},
{
"label": "Sales Agent",
"name": "Joe Yanick",
"company": "Yellow Veil Pictures",
"email": "[email protected]"
}
],
"credits": [
{
"label": "Director",
"values": [
"Emily Robinson"
]
},
{
"label": "Executive Producer",
"values": [
"Debbie von Ahrens",
"Jim Robinson",
"Kyle Campbell",
"Troy Press",
"Bella Appel",
"Darci Price",
"Galileo Mondol"
]
},
{
"label": "Producer",
"values": [
"Sophia Sabella",
"Pablo Feldman",
"Jolene Mendes",
"Rhianon Jones",
"Tristan Scott-Behrends",
"Emily Robinson"
]
},
{
"label": "Screenwriter",
"values": [
"Emily Robinson"
]
},
{
"label": "Cinematographer",
"values": [
"Brody S. Anderson"
]
},
{
"label": "Editor",
"values": [
"Patrick Lawrence"
]
},
{
"label": "Production Designer",
"values": [
"Annie Becker"
]
},
{
"label": "Sound",
"values": [
"Zach Goheen"
]
},
{
"label": "Music",
"values": [
"Sóley Stefánsdóttir"
]
},
{
"label": "Cast",
"values": [
"Emily Robinson, Ryan Simpkins, Aaron Dominguez, and Robin Tunney"
]
},
{
"label": "Crew",
"values": [
"Costume Designers: Sophia Sabella & Lucy Black, Hair and Makeup Department Head: Josie Rodriguez, Visual Effects: Matt Lathrom & Patrick Lomantini, Co-Executive Producer: Patrick Lawrence, Associate Producer: Rachel Nagao, Script Supervisor: Martha Carey, Assistant Director: Veronica Deeds, Colorist: Steff Walk"
]
}
],
"related_films": []
}
],
"related_sales_client": null
}