Argo Tipped For Oscar Success After Award Win

Ben Affleck's Argo is leading the way among the Oscar nominations for best picture - after being named the best film of 2012 at the Producers Guild Awards in Beverly Hills.

He picked up the accolade, which is often a harbinger for the much-coveted Academy Award, with co-producers George Clooney and Grant Heslov.

Argo has already won best dramatic film at the Golden Globes where Affleck was named best director.

The actor also stars in the film, which tells the true story of the daring rescue of six US diplomats from Tehran, under the guise they were working on a fake sci-fi film called Argo.

The joint CIA and Canadian government operation, which began in 1979 and ended early in 1980 during the Iranian Hostage Crisis, became known as the Canadian Caper.

In the past five years, the winner of best film at the Producers Guild Awards has gone on to pick up the Best Picture Oscar.

Those completing the double include The Artist last year, The King's Speech in 2011 and Slumdog Millionaire in 2009.

But Argo will face tough competition from Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, Les Miserables and Zero Dark Thirty at the 85th Academy Awards on February 24, where it is nominated for a total of seven Oscars.

On Sunday night, stars of Lincoln, Les Miserables and Silver Linings Playbook are among nominees for the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles.