Top director Martin Scorsese

Feb 5, 2007, 12:40 GMT

Martin Scorsese has won the Directors Guild of America's (DGA) top directorial award for his movie 'The Departed'.

The legendary filmmaker collected the prestigious accolade for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for his Boston gangster movie at the 59th DGA annual ceremony in Los Angeles on Saturday (03.02.07).

Remarkably this is the first time Scorsese has triumphed in this category, despite being nominated six times.

Discussing his award, he said: "I can't believe this. I did not think I'd be standing here tonight."

Scorsese's win is seen as paving the way for his first Oscar win - something which has unbelievably eluded him in his 40 year career. The DGA's are widely regarded as a "near-perfect barometer" for the Academy Awards.

Since 1949 only six winners of the most coveted DGA prize have failed to collect the corresponding accolade at the Oscars.

Scorsese's 2007 Best Director Oscar nomination follows nods for 'Raging Bull', 'The Last Temptation of Christ', 'GoodFellas', 'Gangs of New York' and 'The Aviator'.

The 64-year-old director is up against Clint Eastwood for 'Letters From Iwo Jima', Stephen Frears for 'The Queen', Paul Greengrass for 'United 93' and Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu for 'Babel'.

Other DGA winners included Jon Cassar, who picked up the Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series Night for '24' and 'Ugly Betty' director Richard Shepard who was recognised for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series.

2007 Directors Guild of America Awards full list of winners:

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film

Martin Scorsese, 'The Departed'

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies For Television

Walter Hill, 'Broken Trail'

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series Night

Jon Cassar, '24'

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series

Richard Shepard, 'Ugly Betty'

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Musical Variety

Rob Marshall, 'Tony Bennett: An American Classic'

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs

Tony Sacco, 'Treasure Hunters'

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Daytime Serials

Jill Mitwell, 'One Life To Live'

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs

Kenny Ortega, 'High School Musical'

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials

Dante Ariola, 'First Taste (Coca-Cola)', 'Snowball (Traveller's Insurance)', 'Human (Johnny Walker)'

Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary

Arunas Matelis, 'Before Flying Back to the Earth'

(C) BANG Media International