Van Sant's early career was devoted to directing television commercials in the Pacific Northwest. He made his feature-length cinematic directorial debut with "Mala Noche" (1985). His second feature, "Drugstore Cowboy" (1989), was highly acclaimed, and earned him screenwriting awards from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association and New York Film Critics Circle and the award for Best Director from the National Society of Film Critics. His next film, "My Own Private Idaho" (1991), was similarly praised, as was the black comedy "To Die For" (1995), the drama "Good Will Hunting" (1997), and the biographical film "Milk" (2008); for the latter two, Van Sant was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director and both films received Best Picture nominations.