New ‘Cookie Queens’ Movie Has a Surprising El Paso Connection

A new film hitting select theaters this weekend has an unexpected El Paso connection and it also features my favorite sweet treat: Girl Scout Cookies!

Cookie Queens, released Friday, August 6, is a coming-of-age documentary following four Girl Scouts through the highs, lows and surprising business lessons of a six-week Girl Scout Cookie season.

After coming across the film’s trailer, I noticed a familiar El Paso name: Alchemy Karate. I reached out to instructor Eddie Villanueva, who proudly confirmed that one of the girls featured in the documentary, 10-year-old Shannon Elizabeth, was one of his students.

Courtesy: Roadside Attractions/ Cookie Queens Film

The film is a sweet (no pun intended) story that follows four Girl Scouts, Olive, Shannon Elizabeth, and Nikki, through a six-week cookie season. Cookie Queens is Directed by Alysa Nahmias, and it premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and SXSW and explores not only the joys and pressures of Girl Scout Cookie season, but also the economics behind the iconic fundraiser.

The film’s production team also includes Archewell Productions, with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, serving as executive producers.

Throughout the film, Shannon Elizabeth and fellow Scouts Olive and Nikki learn business strategies from one another while competing in regional sales contests for a chance to attend Girl Scout Camp. They also discover their troop receives only $1 from each $6 box sold, raising questions about fairness and what children learn from the experience.

Shannon Elizabeth gets some real-world business lessons of her own. After trying to sell cookies at an empty flea market and later outside a Panda Express on a snowy day, she realizes that a busy street doesn’t necessarily mean a busy selling location.

Shannon Elizabeth may only be in the 5th grade, but her ambitions extend beyond cookie sales. She says she hopes to become a lawyer one day! I think she will make a GREAT lawyer!

Cookie Queens is now playing in select theaters, including AMC El Paso 16, Premiere Cinema El Paso Bassett + IMAX and Cinemark Tinseltown Las Palmas XD and ScreenX.

Click here to find movie times and to your tickets.