Iraq drama 'The Hurt Locker' wins Oscars indicator

Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker" scooped top prize at the Producers Guild of America (PGA) Awards on Sunday, a key awards season event that offers clues of possible Oscars contenders.

The low-budget independent movie about a maverick US army bomb disposal expert won the Darryl F. Zanuck producer of the year award after being overlooked at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Six of the past nine winners of the accolade have gone on to win the best picture prize at the Academy Awards, which will take place in Hollywood this year on March 7. Nominations for the Oscars are announced on February 2.

Victory for "The Hurt Locker" thrust the film firmly back into contention in the race for the Oscars's best picture prize after science fiction blockbuster "Avatar" had emerged as an early favorite following last week's Golden Globes.

"Avatar" was among the other beaten nominees for the PGA Awards top honor honor, which also included "District 9," "An Education," "Inglourious Basterds," "Invictus," "Precious," "Star Trek," "Up" and "Up in the Air."

The PGA Awards best animated film went to Pixar's "Up" while the best documentary honor went to "The Cove."