The Artists' Hazanavicus Among DGA Nominees

JAN 9, 2012 - The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has named the five nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures. They are:

1. Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris

2. David Fincher for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)

3. Michel Hazanavicius (picture) for The Artist (2011)

4. Alexander Payne for The Descendants

5. Martin Scorsese for Hugo

This is the first DGA nomination for Hazanavicius, 44, for his black and white silent movie about old Hollywood, The Artist, which has wowed critics since its premier at the Cannes film festival in May.

The DGA has a strong track record of foreshadowing the eventual winner of the Best Director Oscar, and the Academy Award for Best Movie also goes to the winner of best director. Since 1948, there are only six occasions when the DGA award winner has not gone on to win the corresponding Academy Award.

The DGA hands out its award at ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday, Jan 28 in Hollywood, and it will be hosted this year by former "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer.