“Cookie Queens,” a documentary backed by Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, has found a buyer.
Roadside Attractions has acquired U.S. rights to the project, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival. “Cookie Queens” will also have a presence at SXSW before it opens exclusively in theaters over the summer.
Directed by Alysa Nahmias, “Cookie Queens” 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.” It chronicles the six-week blitz in which Girl Scouts take to the streets to sell Thin Mints, Samoas and Tagalongs.
“As a former Girl Scout myself, with my mom as my troop leader, I have a personal affinity for this film,” Meghan previously said. “Alysa’s creative point of view, the edgy yet humanizing tone and tenor of the directing, and the glimpse behind-the-scenes into such a nostalgic and also modern tradition of Girl Scout Cookie season are absolutely irresistible.”
Roadside’s experience in the documentary space 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 the 98th Oscar-nominated shorts, presented by Taika Waititi, in North American theaters.
“Cookie Queens shines a light on an iconic American tradition that millions of people recognize but rarely stop to consider,” said Roadside co-presidents Eric d’Arbeloff and Howard Cohen. “Alysa’s funny and deeply affecting portrait of these girls and their families had Sundance audiences cheering and stayed with us long after the credits rolled. We’re excited to share it with a broad audience in theaters soon.”
Megan and Prince Harry were executive producers on the doc. “Cookie Queens” was produced by Michael Dweck & Gregory Kershaw of Beautiful Stories, Nahmias for AJNA Films, and Jennifer Sims. The deal was negotiated with Roadside Attractions Co-President Howard Cohen and Josh Braun and Dan Braun for Submarine and Maggie Pisacane for WME on behalf of the filmmakers.
“Girl Scout Cookies are more than a beloved tradition – they’re a big business where talented and hard-working girls generate $800 million in annual sales,” Nahmias said. “For me, this became a fascinating lens to explore a story about girlhood — the ambition, resilience, humor, and vulnerability that emerge as these girls navigate growing up in a world shaped by the tensions between community and capitalism.”
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