Gus Van Sant is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for directing the films Good Will Hunting, Milk, and Finding Forrester. He has also directed several independent films, including Drugstore Cowboy, My Own Private Idaho, and Elephant. Van Sant's work often explores themes of isolation, loneliness, and despair. He has been nominated for two Academy Awards and won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2003.