'La La Land' wins best film award at DGA

Damien Chazelle’s highly acclaimed movie ‘La La Land’ has been named by Hollywood directors the best film of 2016 at Directors Guild of America (DGA).

The honor which was given to the movie at a gala ceremony on Saturday placing the musical in a very strong position for the world’s most prestigious film awards, the Oscars which is scheduled to be held later this month.

The DGA win is usually seen as a predictor for success in the Academy Awards.

Chazzelle is poised to become the youngest winner of the best director award at the upcoming Academy Awards with his film receiving 14 nominations, a record which it shares with ‘All About Eve’ and ‘Titanic’.

On stage, the 32-year-old director said that “I’m a movie maker because I love movies. I was three years old watching Cinderella on loop.”

“I felt that movies were powerful because they speak to everyone: all countries all cultures,” he added.

‘La La Land’ had previously set a record by winning seven Golden Globes awards.

The Directors Guild of America (DGA), the leading industry group representing film and television directors, chose Ezra Edelman as the best documentary maker for "O.J.: Made in America," which is nominated for the best documentary feature Oscar.

HY/HY