Which 2006 independent film features a dysfunctional family traveling in a yellow VW bus to a beauty pageant?

Little Miss Sunshine is the 2006 independent film about a dysfunctional family traveling in a yellow Volkswagen bus to a beauty pageant. The family drives from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Redondo Beach, California, so young Olive Hoover can compete.

The tragicomedy was directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris from a screenplay by Michael Arndt. Its ensemble includes Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Steve Carell, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin, and Alan Arkin. Each family member is dealing with a personal crisis, but the road trip gradually turns their collection of conflicts into a story about loyalty and acceptance.

The yellow vehicle is a Volkswagen T2 Microbus. Five buses were used during production, including working vehicles and versions mounted on trailers for filming. Several breakdowns in the plot, including the faulty clutch and stuck horn, were inspired by writer Arndt's own experiences with a similar van.

The film premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, where Fox Searchlight bought its distribution rights in a notably large deal. It later earned four Academy Award nominations, with Alan Arkin winning Best Supporting Actor.