Dan Kwan (left) and Daniel Scheinert pose in the press room in Beverly Hills, California. AFP

Directing double-act Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, both 35, fended off competition from the likes of Steven Spielberg to win the prize for best feature film at the Directors Guild of America's annual gala in Beverly Hills.

"What the hell? Guys, thank you so much. This has been an incredible year for our little film that somehow keeps going," said a visibly shocked Kwan.

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The movie stars Michelle Yeoh as an immigrant laundromat owner undergoing a tax audit who becomes drawn into an inter-dimensional battle to save the multiverse from a powerful villain.

It became a huge word-of-mouth hit last year, has grossed more than $100 million worldwide, and holds the most Academy Award nominations this year with 11.

Kwan and Scheinert, collectively referred to as "Daniels," made their start directing music videos, and were previously best known for the oddball Daniel Radcliffe comedy "Swiss Army Man."

Scheinert thanked his co-director Kwan "for putting up with me when I asked to make our movie weirder."

"Thank you for making our movie so much braver and more vulnerable. What an honor... this is crazy!"

Agence France-Presse