Fox SearchlightThis awards season, it's shaping up more and more to be Birdman vs. Boyhood...oh, the Oscars race is ON!
At the 2015 Directors Guild Awards on Saturday, the former flick received the only movie award, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film, for director Alejandro G. Iñárritu (check out a full list of winners below).
Presenters Lea Michele, who wore a black, slinky gown (and got to hang with her character's idol,Barbra Streisand!) and January Jones, who sported a cleavage-baring outfit, both turned heads on the red carpet. Other presenters included Bill Murray and Taraji P Henson (that's Queen Cookie to you, Empire fans), who also wowed with a dark, halter mermaid-style dress (see photos of celebs on the red carpet).
Birdman, a dark comedy, stars Michael Keaton as a washed up superhero movie actor itching to jumpstart his ailing career, with a Broadway play. The movie had weeks ago nabbed the most prestigious ensemble awards at the SAG Awards, the Producers Guild Awards and the Gotham Independent Film Awards, beating fellow 2015 Oscars frontrunner Boyhood.
"All the films I have done before Birdman always left people with a powerful feeling of emptiness or sadness," Iñárritu told reports backstage at the DGA Awards. "It was an emotional thing and I feel very strange and new and beautiful that people felt more cheerful. There is some happiness floating in the room after the film finished. I wasn't used to it."
Boyhood, an innovative coming-of-age drama by Dazed and Confused and Slacker director and writer Richard Linklater that stars Ethan Hawke and Patricia Arquette, has received two top prizes at major award shows held before the Oscars—the Golden Globe for Best Picture, Drama, and the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Picture.
Both Boyhood and Birdman are nominated for Best Motion Picture at the 2015 Oscars, which take place on Feb. 22. They are also up for the top prizes at the 2015 BAFTAs, which take place in London on Sunday, and at the 2015 Independent Spirit Awards, which are on Feb. 21.
When asked how he is preparing for the Oscars, Iñárritu told reporters, laughing, "You can't prepare. You just have to go there and have fun. And whatever happens, it's already decided. There's nothing to do. It is what it is. I'm very grateful but serene with no expectations."
At the DGA Awards, Birdman also beat The Grand Budapest Hotel, American Sniper and The Imitation Game for the top prize. They are also nominated for the 2015 Oscar for Best Motion Picture.
Jane Lynch hosted the DGA Awards, which took place at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, and praised veteran actor Clint Eastwood, director of American Sniper, about his career, later joking, "What more do you want buddy?"
Also at the ceremony, director Stephen Spielberg announced that next year's event will feature a new award, First Time Feature Film Director.
Check out a full list of 2015 DGA Awards winners below.
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film
Birdman (Alejandro G. Iñárritu)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Series
Homeland, "From A to B and Back Again" (Lesli Linka Glatter)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series
Transparent, "Best New Girl" (Jill Soloway)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series
Olive Kitteridge (Lisa Cholodenko)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Regularly Scheduled Programming
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, "Episode #1" (David Diomedi)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Variety/Talk/News/Sports - Specials
The 68th Annual Tony Awards (Glenn Weiss)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Reality Programs
The Chair, "The Test" (Anthony B. Sacco)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs
100 Things To Do Before High School, "Pilot" (Jonathan Judge)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials
MJZ (Nicolai Fuglsig)
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Documentary
Citizenfour (Laura Poitras)
Lifetime Achievement & Service Award Recipients
Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Achievement in Television Direction
James Burrows
Jonathan Butler
Frank Capra Achievement Award
Phillip Goldfarb
Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award
Julie Gelfand