Producers Guild gives nod to 'Sunshine'

(AP)
Updated: 2007-01-22 09:03

In this file photo, provided by 20th Century Fox, actress Abigail Breslin appears in the film, 'Little Miss Sunshine.'(AP Photo/20th Century Fox)

LOS ANGELES - The offbeat, dark comedy "Little Miss Sunshine" was the surprise winner of the top feature film award presented by the Producers Guild of America.

The film beat back tough competition from such films as "Babel," "The Departed," "Dreamgirls" and "The Queen" — all considered likely to receive Oscar nominations when they are announced Tuesday.

Comedies rarely fare well during awards season. The Producers Guild's nod Saturday to "Little Miss Sunshine" was even more of a surprise given that "Babel" won the award for best drama at last week's Golden Globe ceremony and "Dreamgirls" won the Golden Globe for best comedy/musical.

Marc Turtletaub, David T. Friendly, Peter Saraf, Albert Berger and Ron Yerxa, the producers of "Little Miss Sunshine," were given the Darryl F. Zanuck producer of the year award. The film was released by Fox Searchlight Pictures, a division of News Corp.

The road trip movie "Cars" from Disney-Pixar was chosen by the guild as best animated film.

The award for episodic TV comedy went to "The Office," while "Grey's Anatomy" won in the drama category.

The Producers Guild honored the HBO special "Elizabeth I" its award for long-form television, while the HBO series "Real Time with Bill Maher" won for best variety television program.

The long-running news magazine "60 Minutes" won a guild award for nonfiction television program.