78th Academy Awards Producer

	Gil Cates

Gilbert Cates will return once again next year to produce the annual Academy Awards® telecast.  Cates will captain the 78th Oscar telecast scheduled for Sunday, March 5, 2006.

Cates has produced more Oscar shows than any other person, with a dozen telecasts to his credit since 1990.

"Even with twelve shows in his past, Gil remains extraordinarily creative and ready and willing to give innovation a try," Ganis said.  "And the rest of us are a little more comfortable with Gil trying new ways to present the evening, because he knows exactly what's at stake."

Cates' previous outings as producer have garnered 92 Emmy nominations and 21 Emmy Awards for his telecasts.  Cates won the Emmy himself in 1991 for producing the 63rd Annual Academy Awards telecast.

Academy Awards Host

	Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart has been set to host the 78th Academy Awards telecast, producer Gil Cates announced today. This will be Stewart's first stint as Oscar host.

"My wife and I watch him every night," Cates said. "Jon is the epitome of a perfect host — smart, engaging, irreverent and funny."

Academy President Sid Ganis echoed Cates' enthusiasm. "I'm very excited," he said. "Stewart is a superb choice — witty, current, intelligent and charming. What a terrific addition to our roster of great hosts!"

The host of Comedy Central’s multiple Emmy- and Peabody- winning "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," Stewart has transformed “The Daily Show" into one of America’s most influential and popular television shows. Stewart and the writers of “The Daily Show” also authored America (The Book): A Citizen’s Guide to Democracy Inaction at the end of 2004. The book, which was recently awarded the Thurber Prize for American Humor, was a staple on The New York Times best sellers list for 46 consecutive weeks, including 15 consecutive weeks in the #1 position.

Academy Awards Telecast Director

Director Louis J. Horvitz will call the shots at the 78th Annual Academy Awards® telecast, show producer Gil Cates has announced.

This will be Horvitz’s tenth time directing the Academy Awards show. He has received four Emmy Awards, three of which have come for his Oscar telecast work.

Horvitz just directed "The Kennedy Center Honors" for the 14th time. This year, he also completed his 10th year as executive producer-director of "An Evening of Stars" and his 12th year as director of "The American Film Institute¹s Life Achievement Award."

In a career that has spanned three decades, Horvitz has helmed numerous other high-profile programs including the "Daytime Emmy Awards," "The Kids Choice Awards," "CBS at 75," "Lifetime’s Achievement Awards: Women Changing the World," VH-1’s "DIVAS," "Macy's July 4th Spectacular," "The 2004 MTV-Movie Awards," "The Bad Boys of Comedy," "The VH-1 Concert for New York City" benefiting survivors of 9/11, and "U2 Half Time at the Superbowl." He is currently putting the finishing touches on "An Evening of Stars: Tribute to Stevie Wonder," which will air on January 7th and 8th.

Academy Awards Telecast Production Designer

Roy Christopher will return for his 17th assignment as production designer of an Academy Awards® Presentation.

Christopher has received a total of 35 Emmy nominations, 16 of them for his work on the Oscar telecast.  He has won a total of eight Emmys, six for his work on Oscar sets.

Christopher's projects include the long-running comedy hits "Frasier" and "Becker," as well as other notable series including "Murphy Brown" and the current series "Freddie" starring Freddie Prinze, Jr.  He has also designed TV specials for such legendary stars as Mary Tyler Moore, Carol Burnett and Baryshnikov. In February 2004, Christopher was honored by his peers with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Art Directors Guild.

Academy Awards Telecast Music Director

Oscar®-winning composer Bill Conti will return to the Oscar podium as musical director for the 78th Academy Awards, telecast producer Gil Cates announced today. This will be the 18th time that Conti has conducted the Academy Awards Orchestra.

Conti received an Oscar in 1983 for the Original Score of "The Right Stuff." He also received two nominations in the Original Song category, in 1976 for "Gonna Fly Now" from "Rocky" and in 1981 for the title song from "For Your Eyes Only." In addition, Conti received 11 Emmy nominations and has won three of them for his work on Academy Awards telecasts.

His other film credits include "The Thomas Crown Affair," "The Karate Kid," "Broadcast News," "Private Benjamin," "Rocky II," "Rocky III" and "Rocky V."

Academy Awards Telecast Executive in Charge of Talent

Danette Herman is back as executive in charge of talent for the Academy Awards® Presentation, telecast producer Gil Cates has announced. This will be the 32nd year Herman has been associated with the annual show.

A specialist in live television, galas and special events, Herman recently served as coordinating producer for the "Kennedy Center Honors," completing her 28th association with that show. She also served as coordinating producer for the "57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards" and "An American Celebration at Ford’s Theatre."

Other credits include "CBS at 75," the celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the CBS Network, four presidential inaugural galas and the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta. Herman has worked on over 200 television events.

Governors Ball Chair

Cheryl Boone Isaacs, a governor representing the public relations branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on its board, will chair the Governors Ball, the post-telecast event that will follow the 78th Academy Awards® on Sunday, March 5, 2006.

In her third year as chair, Boone Isaacs will manage the overall planning of the décor, menu and entertainment for the celebration. "On Oscar Night, we honor and celebrate the achievements of filmmakers," she said. "So to that end, we want to create an elegant and memorable evening to top it all off for our guests."

The Ball's 1,600 guests, which include Academy Award winners and nominees, show presenters and telecast participants, will celebrate in the Governors Ballroom on the top level of the Hollywood & Highland® complex immediately following the telecast.

Boone Isaacs currently works as a motion picture marketing consultant. Previously she was president of theatrical marketing at New Line Cinema and prior to that was at Paramount Pictures for 12 years where she rose to executive vice president of worldwide publicity.

Governors Ball Producer

Beverly Hills, CA — For the 17th consecutive year, special events producer Cheryl Cecchetto has been chosen by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to produce the annual Governors Ball, the post-telecast celebration for the 78th Academy Awards® on Sunday, March 5, 2006, at the Hollywood & Highland® entertainment complex.

Cecchetto and her team at Sequoia Productions will work with Governors Ball Chair Cheryl Boone Isaacs to manage every detail pertaining to the event, including décor, lighting, sound, rentals, entertainment, food and personnel.

"This year, as always, we hope to discover another facet of the Governors Ball and to create innovative new dimensions, while at the same time maintaining the integrity and majesty that have made the Governors Ball such a prominent event," said Cecchetto.

Sequoia Productions, Cecchetto's company, recently produced the 57th Annual Emmy Awards® Governors Ball and Entertainment Weekly's 2nd Annual Emmy Celebration. Sequoia's upcoming events include Australia Week 2006 for the Australian Consul General and the Entertainment Weekly party at Sundance Film Festival. Sequoia is also producing the live, televised opening entertainment, starring LeAnn Rimes, for the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Tournament of Roses BCS National Championship Gala.

Academy Awards Commemorative Poster Designer

For the first time, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has chosen two vintage photographs as the basis for its official Academy Awards commemorative posters.

"Black Tuxedo" and "White Gloves" showcase two actors holding the coveted statuette moments after receiving the award. The posters will be used to promote the 78th Academy Awards Presentation on March 5, 2006, both in the U.S. and internationally.

Selected from among several hundred entries, the concept chosen by the Academy was presented by Joan Maloney, founder and president of the San Diego-based graphic design firm, Studio 318.

"We loved Joan's idea of cropping the archival photographs down to just the torsos of the two performers, with their hands cradling their statuettes," Academy Executive Director Bruce Davis said. "It transformed them from pictures of particular individuals at specific historic moments to images that convey the experience of capturing a dream."

During her 20 years in the graphics industry, Maloney has won numerous awards in design, printing, paper and trade competitions.

“I’ve been a fan of classic films since I was a little girl,” Maloney said. “It is a dream come true to actually create the theme and look of an Oscar campaign.”

Maloney's design will be used in posters, banners, print ads, postcards and outdoor advertising on billboards, transit shelters and taxi tops in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, New York City and Philadelphia.

In addition , more than 50,000 posters will be distributed worldwide. The posters will be available for purchase through March 19, 2006, on the Academy's website at http://www.oscars.org/publications or by calling 800-554-1814.