Carell film gets pickup from Sundance

PARK CITY, Utah, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- "Little Miss Sunshine" has become the first indie flick out of the Sundance Film Festival to get a major distribution deal, it was reported Sunday.

A bidding war for the film ratcheted the price up to $10 million, Daily Variety reported Sunday.

Fox Searchlight came out the victor for the movie starring current Hollywood hot property Steve Carell along with Toni Collette and Greg Kinnear.

The film debuted in Park City, Utah Friday night to a standing ovation, The Reporter noted.

Focus Features, the Weinstein Co., Miramax Films, Warner Independent Pictures and Paramount Classics immediately launched bids.

"This is what Sundance is all about," Searchlight's Peter Rice told The Reporter. "To find this perfect gem of a movie that can be experienced with an enraptured audience. We look forward to sharing it with the world."

The film will be released by Searchlight in the summer, he said.