Scorsese picks up DGA directors' gong

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 a Feature Film for his Boston gangster movie at the 59th DGA annual ceremony in Los Angeles at the weekend.

Remarkably, this is the first time Martin 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."

Martin Scorsese's win is seen as paving the way for his first Oscar win - something which has eluded him in his 40-year career.

The DGAs 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.