Ugly Cry: VIFF 2026

The Vancouver International Film Festival returns for their 45th year this October 1-11 for another curated season celebrating the best in independent, Canadian, documentary, and international shorts and features.

Canadian Premiere

Twenty-four-year-old aspiring actor Delaney (writer-director Emily Robinson) struggles with impostor syndrome. Riddled with separation anxiety while her boyfriend Miles (Aaron Dominguez) is away filming a zombie movie, Delaney finally lands the audition of her dreams. A problem soon emerges: the producers say she has an “ugly cry.” Determined to contort herself into the pretty mask of misery that Hollywood demands of her, Delaney spirals into a botox-and-pilates fuelled obsession with her looks. As her grip on reality slips through her perfectly manicured fingers, a spectre from her past returns to haunt her.

This genre-bending psychological thriller marks an impressive feature debut for writer-director Emily Robinson, who also stars in the film. Robinson’s poignant and fantastically cringe-inducing performance is complemented by some side-splittingly comical turns from the film’s impeccable cast, including Robin Tunney (The Mentalist) as Delaney’s irreverent mother, and Melinda McGraw (Mad Men) as a fussy botox specialist. With a cheeky injection of delirium and dark humour, Ugly Cry takes a clever jab at internet-age beauty standards and gender norms. Content Considerations: Needles, body dysphoria

Saturday, October 10 Doors: 3:00 pm | Film: 3:30 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

Tickets HERE

For detailed Vancouver International Film Fest information, including current showtimes and advance ticketing, please re-direct to www.viff.org.

All ticketing for VIFF events are managed by VIFF. If you have any questions about ticketing and availability, please connect with them directly. Please do not contact the Rio Theatre for ticketing info or assistance.

Unless otherwise noted, all VIFF screenings and events at the Rio Theatre are 19+ only. Please have valid ID with you upon arrival.

VIFF screenings at the Rio Theatre tend to be busy! All seating is General Admission. We encourage all patrons to purchase tickets in advance to ensure entry, and to please come early (20-30 mins at least) to ensure time to locate great seats and purchase drinks and snacks at concession. The Rio Theate has a small lobby, and coming early helps prevent long lines and bottle-necking.

Please note: Rio Theatre Groupons and passes are n/a for any VIFF events.

VIFF thanks the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations for their continued stewardship of the unceded and occupied land on which our work takes place. As an organization founded and predominantly directed by settlers and immigrants, we understand our responsibility to seek out and build authentic relationships with Indigenous communities, and to allow this ongoing dialogue to influence our practices. As part of this process, we remain committed to collaborating with and supporting Indigenous artists, filmmakers, curators, and audiences.