Cabali documentary screening brings Tiki culture spotlight to Tucson

Tucson film fans and cocktail enthusiasts will soon gather for the Arizona premiere of a documentary rooted in a local Tiki obsession.

Film Fest Tucson and Arizona Arts Live will present Cabali and the Tiki Mug Obsession at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 29, at Marroney Theatre on the University of Arizona campus. The screening highlights the colorful history of Tiki culture and the Tucson story behind Cabali, a speakeasy-style Tiki bar in Oro Valley.

After the film, director Josh Dragotta and featured collector Doug “Fini” Finical will join a live Q&A with the audience.

A documentary about Tiki culture and Tucson

“Cabali and the Tiki Mug Obsession” traces the rise, fall, and revival of mid-century Tiki culture through its most recognizable symbol, the ceramic Tiki mug.

The documentary follows two parallel stories. First, it explores how collectors, artists, and enthusiasts revived Tiki culture during the 1990s after decades of decline. Then, it follows Finical, whose passion for collecting mugs inspired the creation of Cabali in Oro Valley.

As the film unfolds, viewers meet artists, bartenders, historians, and collectors who helped fuel the modern Tiki revival. Interviews and archival footage reveal how a niche hobby evolved into a global community centered on craft cocktails, design, and storytelling.

The local story behind Cabali

At the center of the documentary stands Finical, a dedicated collector whose mug collection sparked the creation of Cabali, a modernist Tiki bar in Oro Valley.

Cabali opened in 2024 and showcases Finical’s extensive collection alongside custom art, bamboo décor, and Polynesian-inspired design. The bar serves as both a cocktail destination and a gallery for Tiki artistry.

The film shows how Finical collaborated with artists and craftsmen to transform his personal collection into a fully realized bar concept. Along the way, it highlights the creative process behind designing original Tiki mugs and building a space dedicated to the culture.

From film festivals to Tucson’s Arizona premiere

Cabali and the Tiki Mug Obsession premiered at the Newport Film Festival in October 2025 and continues to travel the festival circuit. The Tucson screening marks the film’s Arizona debut before it heads to the Vero Beach Film Festival later this year.

Meanwhile, the documentary has drawn attention for its deep dive into Polynesian pop culture and the community that surrounds it. The film explores nearly a century of Tiki history through interviews with leading artists, collectors, and bar owners.

For Tucson viewers, the screening offers something extra. The story connects directly to a local bar and a collector whose passion helped inspire the film itself.

How to attend the Cabali documentary screening in Tucson

Event details:

• Film: Cabali and the Tiki Mug Obsession
• Date: Sunday, March 29
• Time: 6 p.m.
• Location: Marroney Theatre, 1025 N. Olive Rd.

Following the screening, guests can stay for a live Q&A with director Josh Dragotta and featured collector Fini.

Tickets are available through the event page.

For more information, visit filmfesttucson.org.