Did you know that Girl Scout cookies are an $800 million business? In this episode, host Sandra Abrams chats with Alysa Nahmias, the writer and director of "COOKIE QUEENS," a new documentary releasing on August 7 all about the pressure of selling the iconic cookies. The doc, which is winner of the SXSW 2026 Audience Award, spotlights four young Girl Scouts, ages five to 12. It follows Ara, Nikki, Shannon Elizabeth, and Olive, through their highs and lows during the Girl Scout cookie selling season - all while still navigating life and pre-teen fun.

In their conversation, Alysa shares how the concept came to life after her children gave her a directive to make a film they wanted to see and how she went from wearing the "Mom" hat to the "Director" hat. She also explains the process of casting these four charming and ambitious girls, how the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of Archewell Productions joined the project, and the role of Roadside Attractions, an independent film distributor, in getting the film into over 500 theaters.

Learn more and find tickets: https://www.cookiequeensfilm.com/

Watch the Cookie Queens trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnSQS43Eil8

Support the show

---
Subscribe to learn more about filmmaking, production, media makers, creator resources, visual storytelling, and every aspect that brings film, television, and video projects from concepts to our screens. Check out the MediaMakerSpotlight.com show page to find even more conversations with industry professionals that inspire, educate, and entertain!

We on the Women in Film & Video (WIFV) Podcast Team work hard to make this show a great resource for our listeners, and we thank you for listening!