4 min read • 637 words
Introduction
Forget the standard director’s Q&A. Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Soderbergh is orchestrating a far more immersive experience, blending celluloid dreams with centuries-old spirits. In a unique collaboration with Brooklyn’s Nitehawk Cinema and his own Singani 63 brand, Soderbergh will host a nine-week cinematic salon, offering a personal portal into the influences that shaped his iconic career.
A Director’s Personal Pantheon
Dubbed “A Man Under the Influence: 63 Days of Steven’s Selects,” the series launches February 18, 2026, marking Soderbergh’s 63rd year. Each week for nine weeks, a film handpicked by the director will screen. This isn’t a retrospective of his own work. Instead, it’s a curated journey through the movies that personally inspired him, from cult classics to overlooked gems that fueled his creative vision.
The selections promise a masterclass in cinematic taste from a director known for genre-hopping. Audiences might encounter the gritty realism of a 1970s thriller, the precise geometry of a silent film, or the narrative audacity of a foreign language masterpiece. Each screening becomes a statement about Soderbergh’s artistic DNA.
The Spirit of the Matter: Singani 63
The experience extends beyond the screen with a dedicated cocktail program featuring Singani 63. Soderbergh discovered this clear brandy, distilled from white Muscat of Alexandria grapes, while filming in Bolivia. He was so captivated he began importing it, founding a company to share it globally.
Singani boasts a 500-year history in the Andes, protected as a Bolivian Denomination of Origin. Its floral, aromatic profile differs markedly from other spirits like pisco. Nitehawk’s bar team will craft unique cocktails for each film, creating a thematic bridge between sight and taste.
Nitehawk: The Ideal Canvas
The partnership with Nitehawk Cinema is no accident. Known for its sophisticated programming and in-theater dining, Nitehawk has built a reputation as a haven for cinephiles. It provides the perfect ambiance for Soderbergh’s vision—a space where film is celebrated as a communal, sensory experience, not just passive viewing.
This series aligns with Nitehawk’s mission to elevate movie-going. It transforms a simple screening into an event, a topic of conversation, and a shared discovery. The venue’s intimate setting fosters the salon-like atmosphere Soderbergh seeks to create.
Context: The Evolving Cinema Experience
This initiative arrives at a critical juncture for the film industry. As streaming fragments audiences, exhibitors and creators are fiercely reimagining the theatrical experience. The goal is to offer something that cannot be replicated at home: unique curation, community, and complementary pleasures like craft cocktails.
Directors like Soderbergh are becoming key players in this movement. By leveraging their personal brand and taste, they draw audiences back to theaters for events that feel exclusive and intellectually stimulating. It’s a move from distribution to cultural curation.
Beyond Entertainment: A Cultural Salon
The series’ title, “A Man Under the Influence,” cleverly acknowledges the dual nature of the event. It references both the cinematic inspirations on screen and the spirit in the glass. This blend positions the series as a cultural salon, a place for discussion and sensory engagement.
Attendees won’t just watch a film; they’ll partake in a ritual designed by Soderbergh. They will see what he sees, taste what he tastes, and potentially understand the connections he draws between disparate art forms. It’s audience as active participant.
Conclusion and Future Outlook
Steven Soderbergh’s nine-week series is more than a clever marketing fusion for film and spirit. It is a bold experiment in curated cultural consumption. It tests whether a director’s personal aesthetic can be the foundation for a sustained, communal event that celebrates cinema’s past while forging its future.
If successful, this model could inspire a new wave of director-driven programming, deepening the connection between creators and audiences. In an age of algorithmic suggestions, Soderbergh offers a profoundly human alternative: a handpicked journey through the influences that make an artist, one film and one cocktail at a time.
