Ryûsuke Hamaguchi

Ryusuke Hamaguchi (濱口 竜介, Hamaguchi Ryūsuke) is a renowned Japanese film director and screenwriter. Born on the 16th of December 1978, Hamaguchi is an alumnus of the esteemed University of Tokyo, and the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. He began his career in the early 2000s, capturing attention with his graduate film, 'Passion' (2008). His first stroke of international acclaim was with 'Happy Hour' (2015) followed by 'Asako I & II' (2018), and he continued his streak with 'Wheel of Fortune and Fantasy' and 'Drive My Car' in 2021, the latter earning him two Academy Award nominations. He stands out as the third Japanese director to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Director.

Hamaguchi's works extend beyond directing and writing, having made a mark in the documentary sector as well. He collaborated with Kō Sakai to create a three-part documentary detailing the survivors of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Notably, his film, 'Happy Hour', was an outcome of an improvisational acting workshop he held for non-professionals, for which the four lead actresses shared the best actress award at the 2015 Locarno Film Festival. Hamaguchi went on to earn Best Director award nominations for 'Drive My Car', and in 2023, his film 'Evil Does Not Exist' won the Grand Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, followed by the release of 'Gift'. A self-proclaimed 'purely cinephile', Hamaguchi's influences draw from Hollywood films and the works of esteemed directors like John Cassavetes, Robert Bresson, Clint Eastwood, among others.