Alfonso Cuaron wins at Directors Guild for 'Roma,' Cooper empty-handed

LOS ANGELES - Alfonso Cuaron was named best director by his peers on Saturday for his semi-autobiographical film "Roma," cementing his front-runner status ahead of the Oscars in three weeks time.

In one of the last major Hollywood ceremonies before the Feb. 24 Oscars, the Directors Guild of America (DGA) awarded its top prize to the Mexican director for his critically-acclaimed black and white movie about a domestic worker in 1970s Mexico.

"Roma" has 10 Oscar nominations, including best director and best picture.

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) award is one of the top indicators of Oscar glory. All but seven of the DGA winners since 1948 have gone on to win the best director Oscar, and often the top prize of best picture.

The DGA ceremony proved another disappointing night for Bradley Cooper, the actor-turned director of musical romance "A Star is Born."

Cooper made his directorial debut with the movie, as well as acting in it, but on Saturday he lost both the DGA award for best feature film as well as the prize for first time feature film director. The first time director award went to Bo Burnham for young adult drama "Eighth Grade."

"A Star is Born" has garnered multiple nominations, including eight Oscar nods, but neither Cooper nor lead actress Lady Gaga have secured major awards so far.

Hollywood's long awards season has often proved contradictory and inconsistent this year.

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), many of whose voters are also members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, last month selected musical "Bohemian Rhapsody" for its top award. But "Roma" and British historical comedy "The Favourite," which also has 10 Oscar nominations, were not among the SAG choices.

The Producers Guild, also a reliable bellwether of Oscar success, in January chose 1960s road trip movie "Green Book" as its top movie.

The Directors Guild also handed out prizes for television directing, with Adam McKay chosen for corporate family drama series "Succession," Bill Hader for comedy series "Barry," and Ben Stiller for limited TV series for "Escape at Dannemora."

- Reuters