The Artist's Michel Hazanavicius takes top directing prize
The Artist's Michel Hazanavicius (L) takes top directing prize
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Monday, 30, Jan 2012 04:35
By Neal Wallace
Michel Hazanavicius, director of The Artist, has taken the top prize at the annual Directors Guild Awards.
The Frenchman, who was barely known in Hollywood prior to the recent success of his silent film, is now in line to take the same prize at the Academy Awards next month.
Hazanavicius was up against a field of heavyweights for the gong, which included David Fincher, for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and Alexander Payne, for The Descendants.
Only six times in the 63-year history of the guild awards has the winner failed to go on to win the best director Oscar.
On collecting his award, Hazanavicius said: "I'm not American and I'm not French, actually - I'm a film-maker… I feel like I'm being accepted by you, not as Americans, but as film-makers."
The black-and-white movie is up for nine other Oscars, including best film and best screenplay.