QUEEN - PRODUCERS LAUD LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

Little Miss Sunshine won the best picture award at last night's Producers Guild of America awards.

The film, produced for just $8 million (£4.04 million) outside Hollywood, is now more likely to triumph at next month's Oscars, industry experts say.

A critical success, Little Miss Sunshine has already grossed over $60 million (£30.37 million). It beat off competition from Babel, Dreamgirls, The Queen and The Departed.

The film tells of two parents, played by Steve Carell and Toni Collette, determined to secure a beauty pageant triumph for their seven-year-old daughter. Calamity after calamity means the entire dysfunctional family ends up on a journey to the pageant.

The US version of The Office won best television comedy, Elizabeth I starring Dame Helen Mirren won best made-for-television film and Grey's Anatomy took away the best television drama prize.