Reviews & Press Mentions
2025 | Review
FORBES – IT: Welcome To Derry Is Among Best Stephen King Adaptations
"Welcome to Derry features cinematography by Daniel Vilar and editing by Esther Sokolow. This team and the rest of the crew and excellent ensemble cast deserve much credit for their ambition in daring to create a prequel to King's beloved work, and even more credit for their success… They feel like reading King's book. The pacing, the tone, the visual look and style, all of it is like King's novel manifest on the screen… It uses this to great advantage when emotional or horror payoffs land hard and stop, leaving you in those moments without providing an escape."
— Forbes, Mark Hughes
Op-Eds
2025 | Op-Ed
NO FILM SCHOOL – The Art of Editing Fear: Building the World of ‘IT: Welcome to Derry’
In this op-ed, Esther explores her editorial approach to shaping the tone of IT: Welcome to Derry, focusing on empathy, collaboration, and the craft behind building fear.
Interviews
2026 | Interview
POST MAGAZINE - IT: Welcome to Derry editor Esther Sokolow
In this interview with Post Magazine, Esther shares insight into the process, as well as details on the tools that were essential to her work.
2026 | Written Interview
POST PERSPECTIVE – Esther Sokolow on Cutting the Calm and Terror for IT: Welcome to Derry
Esther discusses editing IT: Welcome to Derry, focusing on rhythm, restraint, and balancing quiet character moments with escalating terror.
2025 | Podcast
ART OF THE FRAME – Editors on Editing with IT: Welcome to Derry editors: Glenn Garland, Matthew V. Colonna, & Esther Sokolow
In this episode of Editors on Editing, Glenn Garland ACE is joined by his friends Matthew Colonna ACE & Esther Sokolow to discuss their work on IT: Welcome to Derry. All three of them were editors on this series.
2025 | Podcast
THE ROUGH CUT - IT: Welcome to Derry
Editors Esther Sokolow, Glenn Garland ACE, and Matthew Colonna ACE chat with Matt Feury about joining forces to edit IT: Welcome to Derry.
2025 | Written Interview
FORBES – IT: Welcome To Derry Director, Editor On Horror Storytelling
Andy Muschietti and Esther discuss their editorial collaboration on IT: Welcome to Derry and the creative choices behind the show’s pacing and tension.
2025 | Written Interview
PRODUCTION HUB – Esther Sokolow on Building the Tone, Tension, and Terror of IT: Welcome to Derry
In this ProductionHub interview, Esther breaks down how she shaped the tone of IT: Welcome to Derry through performance, rhythm, and collaboration.
2025 | Video Interview
EDITGIRLS – Editing IT: Welcome to Derry
Esther chats with Edit Girls about working with director Andy Muschietti on IT: Welcome to Derry, editing the first two episodes of the HBO series, and her journey to the editing chair.
2025 | Video Interview
FILMMAKER U – Exploring Editing IT: Welcome To Derry with Editor Esther Sokolow
Esther talks about her work on IT: Chapter Two and IT: Welcome to Derry, focusing on editing for connection, suspense, pacing, and sound.
2025 | Video Interview
TEMPLE OF GEEK – Editor Esther Sokolow on Crafting 1960s Horror, On-Set Editing & Jumpscares
Esther discusses editing the first two episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry, returning to the IT universe, and shaping scares through timing and performance.
2025 | Written Interview
IMMERSIVE MEDIA – Editor Esther Sokolow on Splicing Together Terror in IT: Welcome to Derry
Esther reflects on shaping the tone and rhythm of IT: Welcome to Derry and returning to the world of IT as one of the show’s editors.
2025 | Video Interview
Big Vic Media/Psycho-Cinematic – Editing IT: Welcome to Derry
Esther joins Big Vic to discuss her editorial work on IT: Welcome to Derry and the decisions that shaped the show’s tension and emotional impact.
2024 | Podcast
SIPS & CLIPS – Ep. 9: All Roads Lead Back to Sokolow
Esther shares her path into the film industry and her approach to leadership, collaboration, and compassion.
Industry & Community
2023 | Guild Panel Feature
CINEMONTAGE – Pilot Program Targets Revival of Long-Dormant Apprentice Classification
Esther moderated a Guild panel exploring the revitalized Apprentice Editor Program and the importance of mentorship in post-production.
Documentaries
2019 | Documentary Feature
OFF THE TRACKS – A Final Cut Pro X Documentary
Esther and the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot editorial team discuss their workflow cutting one of the few studio films edited in Final Cut Pro X.