Affleck Gets Directors Guild Gong For Argo

The Directors Guild of America has handed Ben Affleck its top honour for his CIA thriller Argo, adding to the film's growing pile of awards.

The directing award for Affleck comes on top of Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Producers Guild of America gongs for him and Argo and further seals its status as front runner for Best Picture at the Oscars.

However, Affleck, who also stars in the film, will not receive a Best Director Oscar on February 24, as he missed out on a nomination in the category.

Affleck's Oscar snub has not hurt Argo and may even have earned it a favourable reaction among awards voters as an underdog choice.

"I don't think that this makes me a real director, but I think it means I'm on my way," said Affleck, who won for his third film behind the camera.

Backstage at the Directors Guild event, Affleck said he had nothing but respect for the Academy and that "you're not entitled to anything".

With 12 Oscar nominations, Steven Spielberg's Civil War saga Lincoln looks to be the Oscar favourite over Argo, Les Miserables and Zero Dark Thirty.

Films generally have little chance of winning Best Picture if they are not nominated for Best Director.

Only three films have done it in 84 years, most recently 1989's best picture Driving Miss Daisy, which failed to earn a directing nomination for Bruce Beresford.

However, many of the same film professionals who vote in guild awards also cast ballots for the Oscars, so all the wins for Argo are a strong sign that the film has the inside track for Best Picture.

At The DGA awards Milos Forman, a Directors Guild and Oscar winner for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Amadeus, received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Guild President Taylor Hackford led the crowd in a toast to Forman, who was ill and unable to attend.

Malik Bendjelloul won the guild's Documentary Award for Searching For Sugar Man, his study of the fate of critically-acclaimed but obscure 1970s singer-songwriter Rodriquez. The film also is nominated for Best Documentary at the Oscars.

Jay Roach won the Guild Trophy for TV movies and mini-series for Game Change, his drama starring Julianne Moore as Sarah Palin in her 2008 vice-presidential run.

Girls star Lena Dunham earned the guild honour for TV comedy, while Rian Johnson won for drama series for Breaking Bad.