After seven years away, US filmmaker Gus Van Sant returns with a new film screening out of competition at this year's Venice Film Festival, where he will also collect a lifetime award.

The 73-year-old US director, based in Portland, Oregon, has kept his audiences guessing throughout a near-five-decade career that has yielded Oscar-winning pictures such as "Good Will Hunting" and "Milk".

Hiw work moved through phases ranging from experimental to crowd-pleasing, covering subjects including artists, activists and killers.

"I'm not the least bit adventurous by nature, so I probably like getting close to those who are," he said in a 2016 interview.

"I've been influenced by others and I think we could say all my inspirations have come from chance encounters."

Here are six of his most emblem

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