Spielberg and the films leading stars -- Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks -- lost it out in their respective categories to Guillermo del Toro ('The Shape of Water'), Frances McDormand ('Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri') and Gary Oldman ('Darkest Hour').
'Three Billboards..." was a surprise winner in the Best Picture - Drama category where "The Post" was also nominated alongside "The Shape of Water" and Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk".
"This Is Us" star Sterling K Brown created history by becoming the first African-American to get the Best Actor - Drama award for the show but "Get Out" star Daniel Kaluuya, a strong front-runner for Best Actor in a Motion Picture
Musical or Comedy, was outsmarted by James Franco for "The Disaster Artist".
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The Hollywood Foreign Press was already criticised for shunning Peele in the best screenplay and the director categories.
The filmmakers were also puzzled by the racially-themed horror film's placement in the comedy or musical category.
"Call Me By Your Name", a gentle drama about a teen coming to terms with his sexuality in the 1980s Italy, had three nominations, including the Best Motion Picture - Drama.
Film's stars Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer too failed to score a win.