Scorsese up for directing award

The Departed topped the box office in both the UK and US

The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has unveiled its shortlist for 2006's best director, including seven-time nominee Martin Scorsese.

Scorsese, nominated for his crime thriller The Departed, is up against British director Stephen Frears for his royal family portrait The Queen.

Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris are nominated for Little Miss Sunshine and Bill Condon for Dreamgirls.

Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is a contender for Babel.

"Each of these five nominees has demonstrated a remarkable ability to blend craft and vision in the pursuit of masterful storytelling," said DGA president Michael Apted.

Scorsese has been previously nominated for The Aviator (2004), Gangs of New York (2002), The Age of Innocence (1993), Goodfellas (1990), Raging Bull (1980) and Taxi Driver (1976).

Early indicator

The DGA awards have traditionally been one of the industry's most accurate barometers for who will win the Best Director Academy Award.

Fifty-two out of 58 DGA award winners have gone on to win Oscars, including last year's winner Ang Lee for his film Brokeback Mountain.

The winner will be announced in Los Angeles on February 3.

The films in the DGA's shortlist are identical to the nominees picked by the Producers Guild of America last week.