PORTLAND, Ore. — When discussing the film scene in Oregon, it's hard not to mention the contributions of Gus Van Sant.
The two-time Academy Award nominated filmmaker and director is best known for his films "Milk" and "Good Will Hunting."
Born in Louisville, Kentucky, to a travelling salesman and a housewife, Van Sant spent much of his childhood travelling.
He completed his high school education at Catlin Gabel Private School, where he developed an interest in visual arts, namely painting and film.
However, Van Sant wouldn't officially release one of his films until 1987 with "Mala Noche," set in Portland and based on a novella by a Portland resident.
His list of films includes several based in Portland, like "Drug Store Cowboy."
Van Sant identifies as a gay man, and is often credited with helping shape the gay filmmaking community.
He often uses dark humor and novel techniques to explore the themes of his films, many of which feature gay characters and highlight marginalized subcultures.
Van Sant found more mainstream success with "Good Will Hunting," which won two Oscars at the 1998 Academy Awards.
"It was amazing that we got nine nominations. We were really blown away," he told KGW. "We all assumed the Titanic would win, and we were really thankful that Robin got his award and Ben and Matt got their awards."
However, one of the biggest moments of Van Sant's career came at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival in France.
He took home the Palme D’or as the best director for his film "Elephant," a story inspired by the 1999 massacre of students at Columbine High School, with Van Sant saying, "The story that we were telling is a reaction to the things I saw in the journalistic coverage of the Columbine Massacre."
The movie premiered at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall to a packed crowd, making the Rose City feel like Hollywood for a night.
Van Sant served on the board of the Oregon Film and Video Office for a short time.
In 2011, he was honored with an Oregon Historical Society History Maker Award.
Van Sant has lived in Portland for the last 30 years and is still active in the film and television industry.
His most recent project is his wok as a director and executive director for the second season of the FX series "Feud" titled "Feud: Capote vs. The Swans," which premiered earlier this year in January.
KGW's Breaking Barriers series features Oregonians making a difference in the world of sports, arts, government, business and more. You'll see stories throughout June for Pride Month.