Gus Van Sant is an American director, screenwriter and producer. He began his career as an independent filmmaker with Mala Noche (1986) and enjoyed his first taste of success with My Own Private Idaho (1991). He then went on to direct To Die For (1995) starring Nicole Kidman and Good Will Hunting (1997) with Matt Damon and Robin Williams. Wishing to return to a more demanding cinema he cast Matt Damon and Cassey Affleck in Gerry (2002), an experimental film drawing from absurdist theatre. More successful films followed: Elephant (2003), Paranoid Park (2007) and Milk (2008). His latest feature is The Sea of Trees, starring Matthew McConaughey, selected in Competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.