Obscured Releasing has acquired North American rights to "Ugly Cry," a psychological horror comedy that marks the feature directorial debut of actress Emily Robinson, best known for "Eighth Grade." The film premiered at SXSW and follows a young Hollywood actress's descent into body dysmorphia as she struggles with unrealistic beauty standards, with Robinson also writing the screenplay and starring as the lead character, Delaney. The deal underscores growing interest in genre films tackling contemporary anxieties around image and social media pressures.

The acquisition was negotiated by Justin Timms and Joe Yanick of Yellow Veil Pictures for the sellers, and Bill Guentzler and RJ Millard for Obscured Releasing, with a theatrical release planned for autumn ahead of a digital release later in the year. The cast also includes Ryan Simpkins, Aaron Dominguez and Robin Tunney, and the film has since screened at the Overlook Film Festival, Maryland Film Festival, and competed at Filmfest München. Robinson described the film as exploring "the horror of having a body in the age of the internet," while the Obscured Releasing executives praised her writing and direction, comparing her style to early Hitchcock thrillers with a modern edge.