We do not have the chance to witness very often the work behind an actor’s performance. When a famous actor drastically transforms for a certain role – sometimes to the point of becoming unrecognizable – the media usually gives it a lot of attention.  Nonetheless, beyond these physical metamorphoses, there are times when a role requires an emotional and psychological preparation that is much more demanding than any extreme diet.

In Kate plays Christine, we see Kate Lyn Sheil, an ambitious American independent film actress, as she prepares for the role of Christine Chubbuck, a news reporter who committed suicide on the 15^th of July, 1974, during a segment on live television. An event almost forgotten by everyone – or so it seems – until last year when two films about the late journalist came out (incidentally, both are presented at this year’s edition of Americana). Each movie tells the story of Christine from a completely different angle, and Kate Plays Christine is a stunning documentary about Kate Lyn Sheil as she seeks to understand and empathize with her character. While she does, cracks start to show as the actress begins to doubt the whole purpose of the film.

Winner of the Screenwriting Awards and nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at last year’s edition of Sundance Film Festival, Kate Plays Christine was able to catch the audience’s interest at well-known festivals and landed the 8^th place of IndieWire’s Critics Poll of 2016 Best Movies.

2016: Sundance Film Festival – Screenwriting Award
2016: DocAviv Film Festival – Special Jury Prize
2016: Critics Choice Documentary Awards
2016: Champs-Élysées Film Festival
2016: Indiewire Critics’ Poll