WEEK IN WOMEN: Alysa Nahmias’ COOKIE QUEENS served up by Roadside Attractions – Brandy McDonnell reports
Roadside Attractions is cooking up an Aug. 7 theatrical bow for Alysa Nahmias’ tantalizing documentary Cookie Queens, a celebration of girlhood and the complexities that come with it. Cookie Queens tells 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 documentary follows Ara, Olive, Nikki, and Shannon Elizabeth, four Girl Scouts with big personalities and big ambitions, as they navigate the competitive $800 million business of moving Thin Mints, Samoas, Trefoils and other tasty treats.
“Cookie Queens,” which made its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, was executive produced by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex; Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex; Chanel Pysnik; Regina K. Scully; Geralyn Dreyfous; Hallee Adelman; Ann Lewnes; Stephen G. Hall; Melony and Adam Lewis; Ruth Ann Harnisch; Tegan Acton; Emma Pompetti; James Costa; Trevor Burgess; Andrea van Beuren; Jennifer Pelling; Sheri Sobrato; Jamie Wolf; Nathalie Seaver; Heather Kahlert.
“As a former Girl Scout myself, with my mom as my troop leader, I have a personal affinity for this film and am proud that Archewell Productions has partnered with this award-winning team to executive produce this incredibly captivating film,” said Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, aka Meghan Markle, in a statement, per Deadline.
“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.”
Cookie Queens is directed and produced by Nahmias for AJNA Films, by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw of Beautiful Stories (Gaucho Gaucho, The Truffle Hunters) and Jennifer Sims (Surviving R. Kelly).
“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,” said Alysa Nahmias in a statement. “After the incredible response at Sundance, I’m honored to partner with Roadside Attractions, whose commitment to theatrical storytelling makes them the perfect home to bring this film to audiences nationwide.”
Nahmias previously directed films include not only the Emmy Award-winning feature documentary Art & Krimes by Krimes (2022, MTV Documentary Films / Paramount+), but also The New Bauhaus (2019), about visionary artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, and her debut feature Unfinished Spaces, which won a 2012 Independent Spirit Award. Her first feature also won numerous festival prizes, was broadcast on Netflix and PBS, and was selected for Sundance Film Forward. Continue reading on THE WEEK IN WOMEN
