Gilbert “Gil” Cates (born June 6, 1934) is an American film director and television producer. He is probably best known for producing the annual Academy Award shows. In September 2007, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that he would be producing the 80th Academy Awards, his 14th time. The awards took place on Sunday February 24, 2008. Cates directed a number of feature films including I Never Sang