PGA Win Helps The Artist Break (Further) from the Pack

The Artist continued its intermittent awards season domination on Saturday, winning the Producers Guild of America (PGA) Award for Best Feature Film and shoring up its (already considerably good) chances for Best Picture victory come Oscar night. The black and white silent film beat out fellow major awards season contenders The Descendants and The Help, among others. And while Steven Spielberg and co-producer Kathleen Kennedy didn’t take home an award for War Horse, also nominated in the Best Feature Film category, the producing duo didn’t go home empty-handed, either; their The Adventures of Tintin was named the year’s Best Animated Film, beating out fellow nominees Cars 2, Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss in Boots and Rango.

In the documentary category, Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest was the surprise winner; though loved by critics and audiences alike, the music doc—directed by actor Michael Rapaport (Hitch, “Prison Break,” “Boston Public”) in his feature directorial debut—has been mostly ignored by awards-giving groups.

For more information on the 2012 PGA Awards and to check out the winners in the television categories (hint: “Boardwalk Empire” and “Downton Abbey” fans will be pleased), visit www.producersguild.org.