Writer-producer Ed Solomon attended the Sonoma International Film Festival for a screening of his film 'The Christophers,' which won the Stolman Audience Award for Best Film. The dramedy, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Ian McKellen and Michaela Coel, drew praise during a post-screening Q&A. Solomon shared insights on its creation and his aversion to watching his own work with audiences.
Ed Solomon traveled from the set of his upcoming Hulu series 'The Spot' to California's Sonoma International Film Festival over the weekend. At the 29th edition of the event, his film 'The Christophers' screened at the historic Sebastiani Theatre, where it captured the Stolman Audience Award for Best Film. Solomon's mother joined him for the occasion, as first reported by Deadline Hollywood on March 30, 2026. During a Q&A moderated by festival artistic director Carl Spence, Solomon admitted he usually avoids post-completion screenings. 'I tend to not watch anything after it’s done,' he said. 'If one person leaves their seat, I go, “Oh, I fu*king suck.”' He described releases as 'the death of the dream,' preferring the 'world of possibility' during production. The film reunites Solomon with director Steven Soderbergh, following their work on 'Full Circle' and 'No Sudden Move.' It centers on an acclaimed artist played by McKellen whose greedy children, portrayed by Jessica Gunning and James Corden, hire Coel as a forger to complete his unfinished paintings for inheritance. The idea emerged during a pub meeting in London two and a half years ago. Production involved a 19-day shoot after extensive rehearsals with McKellen and Coel, whom Solomon praised for carrying each other through the roles. Solomon noted the challenges of rewriting given McKellen's age and the dense dialogue. He is currently showrunning 'The Spot,' an eight-episode A24 series for Hulu starring Claire Danes as a neurosurgeon investigating a possible hit-and-run she committed.
