Hollywood's movers-and-shakers are honored at Directors Guild Awards.

  • 11 years ago
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards, one of the more exclusive events in Hollywood reserved for A-list stars and the people that make them look good on film, took place in Hollywood on Saturday (February 02).

Actor-turned-filmmaker Ben Affleck won the top honor of the night from his peers for the movie "Argo," cementing the Iran hostage drama's frontrunner status for the Oscars.

Among those defeated on Saturday was Steven Spielberg, whose Civil War-era drama "Lincoln," Kathryn Bigelow for Osama bin Laden-manhunt thriller "Zero Dark Thirty," Ang Lee for his 3D adaptation of the best-selling novel "Life of Pi", and Tom Hooper, for his screen adaptation of the hit musical "Les Miserables".

The Hollywood directors' recognition for Affleck, however, is an awkward result for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, which failed to nominate him for Best Director in what is considered one of the biggest snubs of this year's Oscars.

SOUNDBITE Ben Affleck saying (English):

"I mean, you're not entitled to win anything, you're not entitled to anything in life, I'm really happy... I'm thrilled and honored that the Academy nominated me as a producer for the movie, and I know, as our movie, we're a little bit of an underdog, we're a little bit of the little engine that could, and taking me out of it maybe helps give us purpose, because it's just about that movie, that picture, but you know, it's OK, I'm really lucky, I'm in a great place."

Since 1948, there have been only six occasions when the Directors Guild of America (DGA) winner has not gone on to win the Oscar for Best Director.

The 85th Annual Academy Awards will be handed out in a telecast on Sunday, February 24.