Neon Activates Traveling ‘The Christophers’ Art World Series with Steven Soderbergh, Michaela Coel, and Ian McKellen

Neon will take a series of conversations inspired by Soderbergh's upcoming film from New York to Seattle and beyond.

One of the best new movies coming this spring is Steven Soderbergh’s “The Christophers,” starring Michaela Coel and Ian McKellen. In the film, Coel is a reclusive painter who’s hired by the children of a famous artist to pose as his assistant and gain access to a series of fabled canvases to secure their inheritance. Neon opens the film in New York and Los Angeles on April 10, with a nationwide release starting April 17. It’s directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Ed Solomon.

Starting April 9 and through April 15, however, audiences will get the chance to dive deeper into the film’s world — with discussions about the lives and careers of past and present artists and creators.

On April 9, a live conversation with the filmmakers and cast will take place in New York at the Breuer building, which is currently the headquarters of Sotheby’s. Soderbergh, McKellen, Coel, and Solomon will join art world leader Andrew Goldstein to discuss the ideas behind the film and the connection between art and cinema.

On April 10, “Canvas on the Silver Screen” will feature three conversations at the WSA cultural hub in lower Manhattan. The first talk will feature art critic Jerry Saltz in a one-on-one conversation with Sir Ian McKellen.

The series continues that evening with Ajay Kurian — artist, educator, and participant in the 2017 Whitney Biennial, and also founder of global art mentorship platform NewCrits — who will moderate a discussion with Ed Solomon about his creative process behind “The Christophers.”

Another panel that night will gather a group of contemporary artists to look closely at studio production, the border between authorship and collaboration, and the experience of working under a mentor, which plays out uniquely in the film.

Neon will present advanced screenings in regional markets, followed by discussions with artists, art writers, and experts on April 14 and 15 in Austin, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC.

Full list of events below. Admission is free. For more information on all events, including how to attend, please visit: https://christopherscanvas.com/

New York

Thursday, April 9 – 6:00 p.m.

Sotheby’s Breuer Building
Discussion: The Art of Making The Christophers
Panelists: Steven Soderbergh, Sir Ian McKellen, Michaela Coel, Ed Solomon 

Friday, April 10 – 4:00 p.m.

WSA 
Discussion: Ian McKellen in Conversation with Jerry Saltz

Friday, April 10 – 5:30 p.m.

WSA 
Discussion: Ed Solomon in conversation with Ajay Kurian on Bringing the Art World to Life on Film

Friday, April 10 – 7:00 p.m.

WSA 
Discussion: Inside the Artist’s Studio: The Real Dynamics of the Artist–Assistant Relationship
Panelists: Jamian Juliano-Villani, Ian Cheng, and others to be announced soon

Austin

Tuesday, April 14 – 7:00 p.m.
Alamo South Lamar

Boston

Tuesday, April 14 – 7:00 p.m.
Coolidge Corner Theatre
Screening with Q&A

Washington, DC

Tuesday, April 14 – 7:00 p.m.
AMC Georgetown
Screening with Q&A

Chicago

Wednesday, April 15 – 7:00 p.m.
Alamo Wrigleyville
Screening with Q&A

San Francisco

Wednesday, April 15 – 6:30 p.m.
The Commonwealth Club
Screening with Q&A

Seattle

Wednesday, April 15 – 7:00 p.m.
SIFF Film Center
Screening with Q&A