PRODUCERS GUILD ADDS TO 'AVIATOR' HONORS.

Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer

``The Aviator'' took Academy Award front-runner status after being named top feature film by the Producers Guild of America on Saturday during its 16th annual awards ceremony at Culver Studios.

The award from the producers is watched closely by the industry because the winner of the guild's Darryl F. Zanuck Producer of the Year Award has gone on to win the Academy Award for best picture in 11 of the last 15 years, including three out of the last four.

The Academy Award nominations will be announced today.

The ``Aviator'' producing team of Michael Mann and Graham King paid tribute to the film's director, Martin Scorsese, and especially to star Leonardo DiCaprio who was in the audience.

``This is your passion project,'' King said to DiCaprio from the stage. ``I truly believe it's the performance of a lifetime.''

HBO dominated in the television categories with ``Angels in America'' being named best miniseries, ``The Sopranos'' best drama series, and ``Curb Your Enthusiasm'' best comedy series.

Other winners were ``The Amazing Race'' for best nonfiction program and ``The Ellen DeGeneres Show'' in the variety show category.

Several special awards made up the bulk of the evening and made for some of the ceremony's most touching moments. ``Rescue Me'' star Denis Leary paid tribute to New York City firefighters while accepting the Visionary Award, and Laura Ziskin honored the memory of David O. Selznick while accepting the achievement award named in his honor.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, recipient of the Milestone Award, even thanked foe Michael D. Eisner, who ``showed me that an executive can be both businessman and creative force.''

The films ``Hotel Rwanda'' and ``Innocent Voices'' received the Stanley Kramer Award, and ``The West Wing'' creator John Wells was given the David Susskind Achievement Award for Television.

The star-studded ceremony was held for the first time at the studio lot in Culver City with such stars as DiCaprio, Will Smith, Virginia Madsen, Samuel L. Jackson, Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman there.

Greg Hernandez, [phone]

greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com