Ben Affleck wins best director award from Directors Guild
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Director Ben Affleck accepts the Feature Film Nomination Plaque for Argo onstage during the 65th Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards at Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland on Feb 2, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Affleck has won the top film honour from the Directors Guild of America (DGA) for his CIA thriller Argo, further sealing its status as best-picture front-runner at the Academy Awards. -- PHOTO: AFP / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA
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Jordyn Blum and Dave Grohl arrive at the 65th annual Directors Guild Of America Awards held on Feb 2, 2013 at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood, California.-- PHOTO: AFP
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Feature Film nominee Ang Lee (left) poses with presenter Suraj Sharma (right) at the 65th annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Kayte Grammer (left), Kelsey Grammer (centre) and guest arrive at the 65th annual Directors Guild Of America Awards held on Feb 2, 2013 at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood, California. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Comedy Series award recipient Lena Dunham (right) poses with presenter Helen Hunt (left) at the 65th annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Documentary award recipient Malik Bendjelloul poses at the 65th annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Feature Film nominee Kathryn Bigelow (left) poses with presenter Norman Jewison (right) at the 65th annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Director Eric Shapiro accepts the Lifetime Achievement in News Award onstage during the 65th Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards at Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland, in Los Angeles, California, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA
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Feature Film nominee Tom Hooper (centre) poses with presenters Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway at the 65th annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Ben Affleck speaks holding his award for outstanding directorial achievement in feature film for Argo at the 65th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards at the Ray Dolby Ballroom, in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: CHRIS PIZZELLO / INVISION / AP
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Ben Affleck poses for photographers with the Feature Film Award at the 65th annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Ben Affleck (right) accepts the Feature Film Nomination Plaque for Argo from Bryan Cranston (left) onstage during the 65th Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards at Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland, in Los Angeles, California, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA
Director Ben Affleck accepts the Feature Film Nomination Plaque for Argo onstage during the 65th Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards at Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland on Feb 2, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Affleck has won the top film honour from the Directors Guild of America (DGA) for his CIA thriller Argo, further sealing its status as best-picture front-runner at the Academy Awards. -- PHOTO: AFP / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA
Jordyn Blum and Dave Grohl arrive at the 65th annual Directors Guild Of America Awards held on Feb 2, 2013 at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood, California.-- PHOTO: AFP
Feature Film nominee Ang Lee (left) poses with presenter Suraj Sharma (right) at the 65th annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Kayte Grammer (left), Kelsey Grammer (centre) and guest arrive at the 65th annual Directors Guild Of America Awards held on Feb 2, 2013 at the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood, California. -- PHOTO: AFP
Comedy Series award recipient Lena Dunham (right) poses with presenter Helen Hunt (left) at the 65th annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Documentary award recipient Malik Bendjelloul poses at the 65th annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Feature Film nominee Kathryn Bigelow (left) poses with presenter Norman Jewison (right) at the 65th annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Director Eric Shapiro accepts the Lifetime Achievement in News Award onstage during the 65th Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards at Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland, in Los Angeles, California, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA
Feature Film nominee Tom Hooper (centre) poses with presenters Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway at the 65th annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Ben Affleck speaks holding his award for outstanding directorial achievement in feature film for Argo at the 65th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards at the Ray Dolby Ballroom, in Los Angeles, on Saturday, Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: CHRIS PIZZELLO / INVISION / AP
Ben Affleck poses for photographers with the Feature Film Award at the 65th annual Directors Guild of America Awards in Los Angeles, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Ben Affleck (right) accepts the Feature Film Nomination Plaque for Argo from Bryan Cranston (left) onstage during the 65th Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards at Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland, in Los Angeles, California, on Feb 2, 2013. -- PHOTO: AFP / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA
Los Angeles (AP) - Ben Affleck has won the top film honour from the Directors Guild of America (DGA) for his CIA thriller Argo, further sealing its status as best-picture front-runner at the Academy Awards.
Saturday's prize also normally would make Affleck a near shoo-in to win best-director at the Feb 24 Oscars, since the Directors Guild recipient nearly always goes on to claim the same prize at Hollywood's biggest night.
But Affleck surprisingly missed out on an Oscar directing nomination, along with several other key favorites, including fellow Directors Guild contenders Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty and Tom Hooper for Les Miserables.
Affleck's Oscar snub has not hurt Argo and may even have earned it some favour among awards voters as an underdog favourite. Argo has dominated other awards since the Oscar nominations were announced.
