At least a half dozen seven-figure deals closed between Sunday and Monday evening.

Two docs sold for about $2 million apiece, a small New York indie starring Keri Russell went for a reported $5 million and the dramedy "Clubland" nabbed $4 million.

The dealmaking flurry is a marked contrast to the same point at last year's fest, when "Little Miss Sunshine" drew headlines and bidders but the roster of big deals was thinner.

The sudden surge in heftier deals took many execs by surprise after early buzz on the festival indicated a dearth of crossover films.

"Because there are a lot fewer good movies that have rights available at a festival, it drives the prices of the good ones up," said one well-known exec. "The hunger for product is bigger than ever."

In her first Sundance acquisition, Warner Independent Pictures prexy Polly Cohen plunked down $4 million for North American, U.K. and Teutonic rights to upbeat Brenda Blethyn starrer "Clubland," directed by Cherie Nowlan and penned by Keith Thompson.

Some considered the deal the richest yet of the fest, since it was only for three territories. Deal was struck with London-based Goalpost Films' Tristan Whalley and Nicki Parfitt, who have sold or are close to selling off other key territories, including Benelux to A Film, Italy to Lucky Red and France to Wild Bunch.

William Morris Independent's Rena Ronson led the negotiations for her team. Taking the lead for Warner Independent was senior VP of production and acquisitions Paul Federbush.

Two of the biggest buys of the day came from Searchlight. The Peter Rice-led division scooped up rights to "Waitress," written and directed by the late Adrienne Shelley.

Some had envisioned a cable play or small theatrical release for the pic, but what execs described as a sweet but nuanced story of a diner waitress (Russell) captured buyers' interest after it screened Sunday evening.

That interest drove the price up to a reported $5 million as Searchlight outbid Miramax, Focus and a number of other distribs.

News came a few hours after Searchlight disclosed it had bought "Joshua," a thriller set amid a Manhattan family, which preemed in the coveted slot after "Grace Is Gone" Saturday. Price is reported to be about $4 million for worldwide rights. Pic was repped by United Talent Agency's Richard Klubeck and Jeremy Barber, and attorney Andrew Hurwitz.

Searchlight has been the biggest spender at the fest, but its investments can be funded by lucrative international TV output deals, essentially bringing down the cost of acquisitions.

The higher pricetags for films this year may be a reflection of revamped mandates at a number of companies. Imperatives for larger films prompted Sony Pictures Classics and ThinkFilm to spend into the seven figures for docs, while the Weinstein Co. made its own statement when it laid out $4 million for worldwide rights to "Grace Is Gone."

Docs also brought in whopping deals.

ThinkFilm laid down $2 million for all North American rights except TV for "In the Shadow of the Moon," outbidding Warner Independent and several other buyers.

David Sington pic examines the Apollo mission using rarely seen NASA footage of space.

ThinkFilm exec Mark Urman said the company plans a wide theatrical release in the fall. Though some had previously raised doubts about theatrical viability, Urman said the movie "had the special effects of a James Cameron picture, except it's all true."

TV rights had been presold to Discovery.

Meanwhile, child-prodigy doc "My Kid Could Paint That" drew approximately $1.8 million from Sony Classics, which outbid distribs such as Picturehouse and Magnolia. Though A&E had prebought TV rights, SPC will distribute the movie through the Sony pay TV output deal, with pic going to A&E in a second window.

Both "Moon" and "Paint" were repped by CAA and Submarine Entertainment. Reps gathered in the CAA condo late Sunday and entertained bidders for one film upstairs and the other downstairs until 5 a.m.

"It was a bit of a British farce," said someone involved with the sale, with sales reps needing to ensure competing bidders didn't see each other as they passed through different doors.

Both pictures also have the same exec producer: John Battsek. Movies had both presold TV rights, a move some regarded as risky, but still managed to earn high prices for theatrical.

Also on Monday, buyers were circling Spanish-language fave "La misma luna," and insiders expected bidding to climb into seven figures as well.

And buyers had heavy anticipation for "Son of Rambow," Garth Jennings' '80s period story about a boy cut off from pop culture.

Earlier buzz titles, including "Snow Angels," "The Good Life" and "The Ten," had yet to find buyers by Monday afternoon.

On Sunday, the Weinstein Co. and Lionsgate pacted to buy "Teeth" for a reported $1 million.