Spielberg Wins Director’s Guild Award for ‘Ryan’

Steven Spielberg, who directed the grueling tribute to the soldiers of World War II, “Saving Private Ryan,� won the Director’s Guild of America award for best director of a feature film Saturday night.

“This is for Arnold, Arnold Spielberg, my father to whom I dedicate this award because it was my father who inspired me with his stories about World War II,� Spielberg said.

It was his third DGA award. He has also been nominated for an Oscar for best director and for best film for “Saving Private Ryan.�

Spielberg paid special tribute to fellow best director nominees Terrence Malick (“The Thin Red Line�), who made a rare public appearance at the ceremony at the Century Plaza, and the irrepressible Roberto Benigni, whom he described backstage as an “Italian Furby.�

“I want to take him home to live with me. . . . I want him to be a part of my family,� Spielberg said of Benigni, who directed “Life Is Beautiful.�

Paris Barclay, who directed Jimmy Smits’ final episode of “NYPD Blue,� won the outstanding achievement award for directing a dramatic series on television at the 51st annual awards ceremony.

Among the other winners Saturday were James N. Sayegh for daytime television serials; Kinka Usha for commercials; and Jerry Blumenthal, Peter Gilbert and Gordon Quinn for the documentary “Vietnam: Long Time Coming.�

The award for directing a television comedy series went to Thomas Schlamme for the pilot episode of “Sports Night.�