“Tulsa Hot Doks” – a collaboration between the Hot Springs (Ark.) Documentary Film Festival and Circle Cinema of Tulsa – will return for its third year on Saturday, May 16.
The one-day festival will feature the film “Cookie Queens”, a captivating and candid film full of heart that follows four girls ages five to twelve and their families as they navigate the annual whirlwind of selling, striving, and succeeding. The screening will include a Q&A with special guests Shannon Elizabeth (Girl Scout featured in the film), her mother Amanda (featured in the film) and Antonio Cisneros (Director of Photography). “Cookie Queens” has a unique Oklahoma connection, as Girl Scout cookies originated from Muskogee’s Mistletoe Troop in 1917.
The film will begin at 2pm, with extras in the Circle lobby starting at 1pm with sample cookies from Antoinette’s Bakery available while supplies last created from the original 1917 recipe. Guests can also learn more about the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival and local Girl Scout initiatives and opportunities before the film. Tickets are $15 adult, $13 for Circle members or Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival pass holders, and $12 for kids 12 and under. “Cookie Queens” runs 1h31min and is not rated but suitable for general audiences.
“The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival is one of the longest-running documentary film festivals in North America,” said Brent Ortolani, Executive Director of the Circle Cinema. “The Circle is proud to continue our partnership with this highly regarded festival and bring a preview of their film offerings to Tulsa.”
“In three short years, Tulsa Hot Doks has become one of our most prized annual programming events,” added Ken Jacobson, Executive Director of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute. “In partnering with Circle Cinema, we’ve been able to spotlight some special documentaries and bring in a unique roster of film guests. Tulsa Hot Doks has elevated beyond film screening to ‘can’t miss’ special event. We’ve struck gold this year with a special presentation of “Cookie Queens,” one of the best films to come out of Sundance — a delightful/fun/inspiring/delicious celebration of Girl Scouts and the annual rite of selling cookies. ‘Tulsans- What’s your favorite Girl Scout Cookie?’”
For more information on the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, or to purchase festival passes, visit www.hsdfi.org. For more information about “Hot Doks” or to purchase tickets, visit www.circlecinema.org.
MORE ABOUT THE FILM
A celebration of girlhood and the complexities that come with it, COOKIE QUEENS is 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. 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.
For these Girl Scouts, selling cookies isn’t just about Thin Mints and sisterhood – it’s a crash course in commercialism. Behind the smiles and cookie boxes lie real pressure: long hours, ambitious sales goals, and the weight of high expectations.
Director Alysa Nahmias crafts a bold, vibrant, observational portrait that honors the girls’ perspectives and illuminates the emotional and intellectual stakes of their experiences. With humor, warmth, and a keen eye for the small moments that reveal big truths, she shows what it means to grow up in a world shaped by the tensions between community and capitalism.
ABOUT THE GUESTS
SHANNON ELIZABETH AND HER MOTHER AMANDA, El Paso, TX | Age 8 | Brownie Level Girl Scout from Troop 50063
Shannon Elizabeth is an energetic only child whose mom (and troop co-leader), Amanda raised her alone for the first few years. Shannon Elizabeth was extremely shy before she became a Girl Scout. She’s recently formed a special bond with her mom’s partner, Juan, whom she calls “Sushi.” The three of them are a mighty cookie-selling trio.
The financial stakes are high for Shannon Elizabeth’s family this season, as they’ve committed to selling a huge amount of cookies to win the prize of a free Girl Scouts summer camp for her. Their family sells at the high school where her mom teaches, local sports fields, stores, and door-to-door. Their family is Latinx and Native American, and Shannon Elizabeth is learning about her Native American culture more as she gets older. She’s also obsessed with Karate and wants to break two boards to earn her purple belt. Of course she sells cookies at her Dojo, too.
While Shannon Elizabeth still carries her pink stuffed bunny, she’s also a budding leader within her large, multi-age troop that’s reflective of El Paso’s diversity. The girls in this troop truly need cookie sales to be able to afford meaningful activities like summer camp.
ANTONIO CISNEROS, Director of Photography
Antonio Cisneros is an award-winning Hispanic cinematographer, Film Independent Fellow, graduate of The American Film Institute and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. The Hollywood Reporter described his work as “intimate, glossy and impeccable” and Deadline has defined him as “a maverick.” Antonio has lensed seventeen feature films, including Netflix’s THE SAINT OF SECOND CHANCES directed by the academy award winning Morgan Neville. In the last year he has shot three narrative features ODDITIES, TENDER, and MARFA LIGHTS – all slated for theatrical release 2026. Antonio lensed the series American Koko for ABC (produced by Viola Davis) and Shangri-La for Showtime. Antonio’s film MOBY DICK: THE WHALE was selected to participate in the prestigious Whitney Biennially in New York. Other clients have included HBO, Netflix, The BBC, PBS, Hulu, CNN, the MOMA, The Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences and Participate Media. Antonio has an extensive background in documentary and is passionate about socially conscious stories. His most recent collaboration is with award winning director Nat Lezra (ROADS OF FIRE) for the documentary film ASH FALLS LIKE SNOW, which follows the mental health crisis within the wildlife firefighting community, embedding with their elite squad the Smoke Jumpers.
ABOUT HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
The Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute is renowned for its commitment to showcasing inspiring and thought-provoking documentaries, fostering a supportive environment for filmmakers, and engaging audiences through diverse programming. From October 9 – 17, 2026, HSDFI will launch the 35th edition of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, one of the longest running documentary film festival in North America. In addition, throughout the year, the Institute curates a dynamic slate of documentary screenings and events in Hot Springs and beyond. Learn more at HSDFI.org.