Director：HAMAGUCHI Ryusuke

Born in 1978 in Kanagawa Prefecture. "Passion", his graduation film for the graduate program at the Tokyo University of the Arts, was screened at the San Sebastian International Film Festival and TOKYO FILMEX where it caught people's attention. Afterward he directed "The Depths" (2010), "The Sound of the Waves" (2011), "Voices of the Waves" (2013), "Storytellers" (2011-2013/co-directed with SAKAI Ko), and "Intimacies" (2012) among others. 2015's "Happy Hour", which cast four women without acting experience in the lead roles, won major awards at international film festivals such as Locamo, Nantes, and Singapore. His first commercial film, "Asako I & II" (2018) was screened in the competition section of the Cannes Film Festival, and the theatrical version of "Wife of a Spy" (2020) directed by KUROSAWA Kiyoshi, on which he served as co-writer, won the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival.
In 2021 "Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy won the Silver Bear Grand Jury Prize at the 71st Berlin International Film Festival. "Drive My Car" won the award for Best Screenplay and three other awards at the 74th Cannes Film Festival, followed by the US Academy Awards' Best International Feature award as well as nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. In 2023, his latest film "Evil Does Not Exist" received the Silver Lion (Grand Jury Prize) and the FIPRESCI award at the Venice International Film Festival.