SAG Awards: Michel Hazanavicius on 'The Artist's' Stellar Awards Season (Video)

7:28 PM PST 1/29/2012 by Rebecca Ford

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"I’m very proud because the recognition of your peers is something very special," the director told THR about his DGA Awards win the night before Sunday's event.

Michel Hazanavius, fresh off his DGA Awards win for The Artist on Saturday night, walked the carpet before the SAG Awards on Sunday. His wife, and the star of The Artist, Berenice Bejo, was at his side. She wore a stunning Ralph Lauren gown, and Chopard jewels, and sported a red shade of hair that wasn’t seen in the film or at past awards shows.

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The director of the nearly-silent, black and white film that’s quickly become the awards season darling spoke to THR on the SAG Awards carpet about his win the night before at the DGA Awards.

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“It was a surprise and it was a great feeling. I’m very proud because the recognition of your peers is something very special,” he said.

The Artist has already won best director at the Critics’ Choice Awards, best motion picture musical/comedy at the Golden Globes and a slew of other honors this awards season, but Hazanavius insists it’s always a surprise.

“You never know how to vote will go, so yes of course it’s a surprise. And tonight it’s the actors; it’s a different vote. And so yes it’s always a surprise,” he said.

Beth Grant, who appears in The Artist, had told THR earlier on the carpet that working with the French was such a pleasure because they are so expressive, and therefore perfect for a silent film.

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“I don’t see things in terms of French or American,” Hazanavius told THR. “I mean, I did a movie in Morocco and a movie in Brazil, in Rio, and one here and in France. And it’s always the same. The same gestures.”

“We do the same work, and a set is a set all over the world. It’s about people, more than being French or American,” Hazanavius said. The Artist is nominated for best picture and Hazanavius is nominated for best director at the Academy Awards, which will take place on February 26. Stars Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo are also nominated for best actor and best supporting actress, respectively.

Twitter: @Beccamford