LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Alfonso Cuaron was awarded the top film honor from the Directors Guild of America for “Gravity” on Saturday night, giving the lost-in-space saga an edge on the journey to the Academy Awards.

In the recent bustle of Hollywood honors, “Gravity,” David O. Russell’s con caper “American Hustle” and Steve McQueen’s historical epic “12 Years a Slave” had been competing in the tightest three-way Oscar race in years.

But Cuaron’s film now has the upper hand for the best-picture and director Academy Awards, and with 10 Oscar nominations, is likely to gain the most statuettes on Hollywood’s biggest night March 2. “American Hustle” also has 10 nominations, but in tougher, more competitive races than “Gravity’s” mainly craft nods.

Meanwhile, the early dominant momentum of “12 Years a Slave” has weakened following Saturday night’s “Gravity” win and the results of the Golden Globes on Jan. 12 and last weekend’s Screen Actors Guild and Producers Guild awards, at which “American Hustle” and “Gravity” had the stronger showings.

In the 65-year history of the DGA awards, the winner has failed to also take home the best director Oscar just seven times. Ben Affleck, who presented Cuaron with his guild award, won the same accolade last year for “Argo” but was denied a best director nomination at the Oscars. However, like many DGA winners, “Argo” went on to win the best-picture prize at the Oscars.

While accepting his trophy, Cuaron recalled looking at satellite images of earth from space.

“What you cannot see from up there is this bizarre experiment of nature that is the human experience,” said Cuaron, a first-time DGA winner. “That experiment is what directors try to sort out with our films. Thankfully, that experience is as diverse as the films as these filmmakers make.”

Cuaron also thanked his son and “Gravity” co-writer Jonas Cuaron.

Sandra Bullock, the star of “Gravity,” was on-hand to applaud Cuaron for his honor. While introducing the director for his nomination speech, Bullock joked that she could barely understand her director while shooting “Gravity.”

“I had no idea whether ice meant ice or ice,” she said, pointing to her eye. Later, Cuaron shot back at the actress, saying that actors feel that the universe revolves around them. When he looked over at Bullock, she pointed to her ear and mouthed, “I can’t understand you.”

Each director gave a nomination speech before the biggest award of the evening was announced and the key stars of films gave their directors glowing introductions. Among them was Bradley Cooper of “American Hustle,” Rob Reiner of “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Tom Hanks of “Captain Phillips,” Sara Paulson of “12 Years a Slave.”

Receiving the loudest applause were the evening’s diversity award recipients, Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers, the creative team behind the TV medical series “Grey’s Anatomy.”

“We are being given an award for something all of us should be doing anyway,” said Rhimes. “There is such a lack of people hiring women and minorities that when someone does so on a regular basis, they are given an award.