QUEEN - PRODUCERS LAUD LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

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.