Gilbert Cates to Receive DGA Presidents Award.

LOS ANGELES -- DGA President Michael Apted announced today that former Directors Guild President Gilbert Cates will be the recipient of the DGA Presidents Award at the 57th Annual DGA Awards dinner on January 29 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. The Award, which is given for leadership and extraordinary efforts in enhancing the welfare and image of the Directors Guild of America and the industry, is bestowed only by a unanimous vote of former DGA Presidents and the sitting President.

"There are few people in the history of the DGA who have matched Gil's vision and influence on this organization," said DGA President Michael Apted. "It is impossible to think of a single issue debated, program launched or battle fought on behalf of us all that didn't have Gil's handprint on it. He is a mentor to me and to every President who has served the DGA, and it is only fitting that one who has dedicated so much of his professional life to Guild service should receive this prestigious award."

Cates is only the third recipient of the DGA Presidents Award, first given in 1998 to former DGA President George Sidney and then in 2001 to former President Robert Wise. He became a member of the DGA in 1960 and began serving in leadership roles at the Guild in 1975 when he joined the National Board of Directors. Cates served as DGA President from 1983-1987 and later as Chair of the Negotiating Committee for the 2002 and 2005 contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. He has held his current office, DGA Secretary-Treasurer, since 1997. In addition to the Presidents Award, Cates received the DGA Honorary Life Member Award in 1991 and the Robert B. Aldrich Award for extraordinary service to the DGA and its membership in 1989.

Cates' presidency made a profound and lasting imprint on the DGA. In 1986, concerned with growing practice of colorizing black-and-white films, Cates appointed a Special Advisory Committee to study the trend and recommend action that the DGA might take. Under Cates' leadership the DGA spearheaded a fight against film colorization on Capitol Hill, leading to the National Film Preservation Act of 1988 whereby, for the first time in the United States, film was defined as art. Also during his presidency, the DGA negotiated the first low-budget contract in industry history. And in 1987, having worked to secure a new location for the DGA west coast offices, Cates led the groundbreaking ceremony for the headquarters building where the Guild is located today.

Among the most notable contributions Cates has made to the DGA are those in the arena of contract negotiations. As President of the Guild he presided over the only strike in DGA history -- and was able to declare victory five minutes later. "When our common interests are challenged," Cates said, "we are not to be denied."

Since his term as president ended in 1987, Cates has remained very active on the DGA National Board. Serving as Negotiations Committee Chair for the 2002 and 2005 contract negotiations, Cates forged the way for important gains for the DGA membership. The 2002 contract negotiations produced the blending of the Guild's film and television agreements and, most recently, the 2005 negotiations resulted in significant creative rights gains and the largest total economic benefits package in DGA history.

"The Guild was and is a great part of my life," said Cates. "I'm proud of our original low-budget contract. I'm proud of the new building. I'm proud that we went out on strike. And I am very proud of the contracts we negotiated on behalf of our members in 2002 and 2005."

Cates' accolades expand into many areas of the entertainment industry. He is recognized as a leader in television, film and theater. Currently presiding as the Producing Director of the Geffen Playhouse, he is dedicated to enriching the Los Angeles theatrical spectrum by presenting the finest in contemporary and classical theater. In November 1996, Cates was the recipient of the Jimmy Dolittle Award for Outstanding Contribution to Los Angeles Theater. In 1999 he received the Ovation Award for best play for directing "Collected Stories."

Cates produced and directed the 1970 film version of the Broadway hit I Never Sang for My Father, which earned three Academy Award nominations. His 1973 film Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams received two Oscar nominations. Other film directing credits include: The Promise, One Summer Love, The Last Married Couple in America, Oh! God Book II and Backfire.

He further distinguished himself as director and/or producer of a number of television dramatic specials, including NBC's 1972 Emmy Award winning To all My Friends on Shore; ABC's 1974 The Affair; NBC's 1975 After the Fall. Other credits include: Johnny, We Hardly Knew Ye, The Kid from Nowhere, Country Gold, Faerie Tale Theatre's Rapunzel and Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Hobson's Choice, Burning Rage, Consenting Adults, Fatal Judgment, Do You Know the Muffin Man, Call Me Anna, Absolute Strangers, In My Daughter's Name, and Tom Clancy's Netforce. His most recent small screen project was a hi-definition adaptation of Collected Stories for PBS Hollywood Presents.

Cates founded the UCLA School of Theater Film and Television and held the position of Dean from 1990-1998. He is currently producing the 77th Annual Academy Awards show for ABC. It is his 12th occasion producing the Awards, for which he has already garnered 76 nominations and 17 Emmy Awards.