Kate Plays Christine: First trailer for meta-doc explores news anchor's on-air suicide in 1974

Robert Greene's documentary sees Kate Lyn Sheil preparing for the role of Chubbuck in a non-existent film

This year's Sundance festival marked one of those strange cinematic coincidences; the vibrations in air colluding to spark the same idea in two different minds.

Dual films competed which dealt with a dark entry into American television history: the suicide of news anchor Christine Chubbuck live on air, broadcast to thousands of viewers in 1974. Antonio Campos' Christine takes the rather direct approach of the biopic, casting Rebecca Hall in the role; with Robert Greene's documentary Kate Plays Christine tackling something quite different.

The latter focuses on actress Kate Lyn Sheil preparing for the role Chubbuck in a film that is entirely non-existent; optioning both to explore the story of Chubbuck's death, but also the way we understand others' identities when they become so interlaced into larger cultural narratives, with Chubbuck providing the inspiration for 1976's classic Network.

Indeed, Lyn Sheil soon learns that Chubbuck's life beyond her shocking final actions has essentially been lost to time; though she becomes increasingly obsessed with uncovering the truth of her life, in turn uncovering the boundaries stated between performance, the storytelling impulse, and authenticity.

As the first trailer for the documentary shows (via Vulture), it's an utterly unique way to approach a real-life figure so wrapped up in the morbid mists of urban legend; whilst also delving into some of the darker impulses behind the very act of performance itself.

Kate Plays Christine hits UK cinemas 14 October.

*If you are worried you or a loved one may be suicidal or having suicidal thoughts, phone Samaritans on 116 123*