Girl Scouts Share Their Excitement Meeting E.P. Meghan, Duchess Of Sussex: “It Feels Like a Dream!” – Sundance Studio
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Executive Produce Sundance Documentary on Girl Scouts
In a notable intersection of royalty and grassroots activism, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle serve as executive producers for the Sundance world premiere documentary, Cookie Queens. The film sheds light on the experiences of a group of Girl Scouts as they sell beloved cookies like Thin Mints, Samoas, and Trefoils to support their troops.
“It feels, like, crazy,” said Girl Scout Nikki B. from Chino, California. “I always read about them in my books, like, oh, the princesses and kings, and then I actually get to meet one.” Her older sister, Nala, echoed this excitement. “When I first found out that I was meeting the duke and duchess, I was like, ‘Are you serious? Are you sure?’ But yeah, I’m really excited. I’m so stoked.”
Olive G., a scout from Charlotte, North Carolina, reflected on the surreal experience, stating, “It’s just crazy to me because me and my parents watch [Meghan and Harry’s] documentary on Netflix and now they’ve watched me [in the documentary]. That’s just crazy.”
The documentary highlights an impressive aspect of the Girl Scouts: their cookie sales contribute to an $800 million annual business. “The cookies are profitable, and these girls are doing that and they’re making a cut of that [for their troops],” noted producer Alysa Nahmias. However, she raised concerns about the pressures stemming from parents, the organization, and even the girls themselves. “It’s a crash course in capitalism for young people,” she added, alluding to broader societal implications.
Cookie Queens is produced by Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw, Alysa Nahmias, and Jennifer Sims, along with the duke and duchess. Other executive producers include James Costa, Geralyn Dreyfous, Trevor Burgess, Ruth Ann Harnisch, and Regina K. Scully. The film is a collaboration among Beautiful Stories, AJNA Films, and Archewell Productions.
As an acquisition title at Sundance, Nahmias expressed enthusiasm about the film’s potential, saying, “We’re so excited for everyone to see it for the very first time. We’re looking for the right distribution partners who are really going to understand how big this audience is—50 million Girl Scouts and alums alive today.” She emphasized their eagerness to find partners who share their vision for the documentary.
