Fox Searchlight made the first big buy at Sundance – a Steve Carell comedy.

The studio acquired worldwide rights to husband-and-wife filmmakers Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton’s debut film, Little Miss Sunshine, says the Hollywood Reporter.

The movie, which also stars Toni Collette and Greg Kinnear, is a satire about a dysfunctional family taking a little girl to a California beauty pageant. It received a standing ovation when it screened at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday evening.

Negotiations reportedly lasted all night, and a deal worth more than $10 million was made.

“We look forward to sharing this perfect gem with the world,” said Searchlight president Peter Rice.






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