The 2026 Sundance Film Festival will be the first since Robert Redford’s passing. I’m assuming there will be some big tributes to the festival’s founder. The festival starts on January 22 and goes through February 1st. At some point, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex might show up! That’s because they’ve executive-produced a documentary about Girl Scouts and their cookies! OMG, Thin Mint LIFE! Peanut Butter Patties! Please bring cookies to Sundance.
The 2026 Sundance documentary lineup will feature a royal flourish. Deadline has learned the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – Prince Harry and Meghan – will executive produce Cookie Queens, “a coming-of-age story about the joys, pressures, and pain points woven into one of America’s most cherished rituals: Girl Scout Cookie season.”
The couple’s Archewell Productions is partnering with Beautiful Stories and AJNA Films on the documentary, which premieres in the festival’s Family Matinee section. Alysa Nahmias (Art & Krimes By Krimes, Unfinished Spaces) directs the film, producing alongside Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw (The Truffle Hunters, Gaucho Gaucho), and Jennifer Sims.
“Captivating, candid, and full of heart, the film follows four girls ages five to twelve and their families as they navigate the annual whirlwind of selling, striving, and succeeding,” notes a description of Cookie Queens. “For these Girl Scouts, selling cookies isn’t just about Thin Mints and sisterhood – it’s a crash course in entrepreneurship. Behind the smiles and cookie boxes lie real pressure: long hours, ambitious sales goals, and the weight of high expectations. Nahmias crafts a bold, vibrant, observational portrait that honors the girls’ perspectives and illuminates the emotional and intellectual stakes of their experiences.”
Long before she became a member of the British royal family, Meghan donned the Girl Scouts vest, participating in that annual rite of selling boxes of cookies to fundraise for the group.
“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 all our conversations and collaboration have led to Archewell Productions partnering with this award-winning team to executive produce this incredibly captivating documentary,” Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, shared. In a statement, she said, “When we first viewed the early footage of this documentary, it was immediately something we wanted to be involved in. The 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.”
No word yet on whether Meghan and Harry plan to attend Sundance. The festival hasn’t announced the exact premiere date yet for Cookie Queens.
“I’m proud and excited to be premiering Cookie Queens at the Sundance Film Festival – which has been a north star along my creative path – and to share that Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and the Archewell Productions team are partners in this project as we introduce the stories of these remarkable girls with the world,” director-producer Alysa Nahmias said in a statement. “From our very first conversation, their enthusiasm was unmistakable – Meghan has a deep personal connection to our film’s community as a Girl Scouts alumna, and the Archewell Productions team understands how this coming-of-age tale goes beyond the cookies to resonate not only with the world’s 50+ million Girl Scouts, but audiences everywhere. I’m grateful to have such thoughtful partners in bringing this delicious adventure to the screen.”
This is exciting! I’m glad they stepped in as executive producers, this seems right up their alley. People love documentaries about heart-warming subjects, especially about kids. The Girl Scouts are such an amazing organization too, and those girls are HUSTLERS! The Girl Scouts in my area are great at making change and they’re terrific saleswomen with a great product. Now I wonder when Lili will become a Girl Scout and whether Meghan will be troop leader. I also wonder if Archie is involved with any youth group. Boy Scouts? Most of the other youth groups are very religious, I think. Anyway, I hope Harry and Meghan go to Sundance to support the documentary!
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
