By Lucy Spicer
At Sundance Institute, we’re always in awe of the power independent film has to bring people together. That’s why we love asking filmmakers to name their favorite Sundance Institute–supported projects, both in our “Give Me the Backstory” feature series and through surveys like the top 10 feature films from the first four decades of the Sundance Film Festival. When a single film resonates with many filmmakers — from different backgrounds and with varying life experiences and artistic styles — a bond is created, rooted in a common love for independent film and universal stories. To commemorate some of our most-mentioned titles over the years, we’ve compiled responses from filmmakers who want to share their love for their favorite Sundance Institute–supported films.
Every once in a while a film comes along that changes the landscape of independent cinema. On July 26, 2006, one such film was released in a handful of theaters across the U.S. Following its premiere at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, Little Miss Sunshine would go on to become a box office success, collect four Oscar nominations (and win two for Best Original Screenplay and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role), and be included in The New York Times’ 2025 list of “The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century.”
Co-directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris with a screenplay by Michael Arndt, Little Miss Sunshine follows the Hoover family as they embark on a road trip from New Mexico to California so that the young Olive can compete in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. With a musical score by DeVotchka — plus two notable songs from Sufjan Stevens — and a superb ensemble cast featuring Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Alan Arkin, Paul Dano, and Abigail Breslin, the film delivers such culturally memorable scenes as the Hoover family jumping into their moving yellow Volkswagen van (it needs a push to get started) as well as Olive’s iconic pageant performance to a remix of Rick James’ “Super Freak.”
Both disarmingly funny and deeply emotional, Little Miss Sunshine is a road movie that invites us to feel the pains and joys that each of its characters must reconcile as they embrace their imperfect selves. The film has resonated with audiences around the world — and for some, it was their introduction to Sundance Institute and the larger independent film community.
Below, some of the Sundance Film Festival alumni who love Little Miss Sunshine as much as we do describe in their own words why the film remains a favorite almost 20 years after its release.
“Little Miss Sunshine isn’t just one of my favorite films from Sundance. It is one of my favorite films, period. I realize it’s a film that’s commonly described as a tragicomedy. But I believe with this film, Dayton and Faris did something truly aspirational with the genre. Not many films of the genre are able to bind two emotional extremes so masterfully. Michael Arndt’s script is brilliant and grounded, the performances from the ensemble cast (Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin, and Alan Arkin) are equal parts tear-jerking and hilarious. The soundtrack from Sufjan Stevens takes the entire picture into new heights. A truly transcendental comedy on existentialism.” — C.J. Obasi, Mami Wata (2023 Sundance Film Festival)
“Little Miss Sunshine remains not only a Sundance favorite, but an all-time favorite of mine.” — Christopher Jenkins, 10 Lives (2024 Sundance Film Festival)
“Little Miss Sunshine made a big impact on me when it came out, and I still love it. I was really drawn to the fact that it was a comedy with great performances and big laughs that also had a ton of heart and style. That alchemy really resonated with me and inspired me to try to make work with similar ingredients.” — Josh Margolin, Thelma (2024 Sundance Film Festival)
“I’ve wanted to premiere a film at Sundance ever since I saw Little Miss Sunshine. The experience of watching that film in a packed theater with my dad, mom, and brother is still the best moviegoing experience I’ve ever had. When I got the call from Ash Hoyle to say that Plainclothes got into Sundance, I may or may not have screamed like Olive when she found out that she got into the Little Miss Sunshine pageant, but truthfully I don’t remember because I completely blacked out.” — Carmen Emmi, Plainclothes (2025 Sundance Film Festival)
“Little Miss Sunshine — not only are the directors, Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, two of the kindest people (as well as my parenting role models because they also co-created the best child, my friend Augusta), but I’m just not sure anyone will ever be able to make a more joyful film than their 2006 classic.” — Cristina Costantini, SALLY (2025 Sundance Film Festival)
“The first time I remember really engaging with Sundance Institute was when I saw Little Miss Sunshine from 2006. I was 14 at the time and completely charmed.” — Matthias Broe, Sauna (2025 Sundance Film Festival)
“What I love most about Little Miss Sunshine is how it tackles serious and complex subjects in a light and entertaining way. What’s truly impressive is that the subject matter isn’t diluted by the genre, and the genre isn’t limited by the weight of the subjects. There’s an incredible balance between what the film is saying and how it’s saying it. Everything works; it’s meaningful, it’s engaging, it’s funny, and that’s what makes the movie so good.” — Amel Guellaty, Where the Wind Comes From (2025 Sundance Film Festival)
Editor’s Note: This feature was published July 25, 2025, to celebrate the 19th anniversary of “Little Miss Sunshine”’s theatrical release. We will continue to add to this feature as more Sundance Institute–supported filmmakers contribute their thoughts about the film.
