Cookie Queens, a documentary backed by Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, has found a buyer.
Roadside Attractions acquired the U.S. rights to the project, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. “Cookie Queens” will also be coming to SXSW before opening exclusively in theaters in the summer.
Cookie Queens, directed by Alisa Nahmias, is described as “a coming-of-age story about the joys, pressures, and tensions woven into one of America’s most cherished rituals: Girl Scout cookie season.” The book chronicles a six-week onslaught of Girl Scouts taking to the streets selling Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs.
“I’m a former Girl Scout myself, and my mother was a troop leader, so I have a personal affinity for this film,” Meghan previously said. “Alissa’s creative perspective, the edgy yet human tone and tenor of her production, and the behind-the-scenes glimpse into the nostalgic yet modern traditions of Girl Scout cookie season are truly captivating.”
Roadside’s experience in the documentary field ranges from “Super Size Me” to “The September Issue” to “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It.” Most recently, the company distributed Taika Waititi’s 98th Oscar-nominated short film in North American theaters.
“Cookie Queens shines a light on an iconic American tradition that millions of people recognize but rarely pause to think about,” said Roadside co-presidents Eric Dabeloff and Howard Cohen. “Alyssa’s funny and heartfelt portraits of these women and their families drew cheers from the Sundance audience and stayed with us long after the credits rolled. We look forward to sharing this work with a wide audience in theaters soon.”
Megan and Prince Harry served as executive producers on the doc. Cookie Queens was produced by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw of Beautiful Stories, Nahmias of AJNA Films, and Jennifer Sims. The deal was negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers with Roadside Attractions co-president Howard Cohen, Submarine’s Josh Brown and Dan Brown, and WME’s Maggie Pisacane.
“Girl Scout Cookies are more than a beloved tradition; they’re a big business driven by talented, hard-working girls and generate $800 million in annual sales,” said Nahmias. “For me, this became a fascinating lens through which to explore stories of girlhood—the ambition, resilience, humor, and vulnerability that emerge as girls grow up in a world shaped by the tensions between community and capitalism.”
