Japanese actress and producer MATSUBAYASHI Urara (1993, Japan) had her acting debut in 1+1=11 (2012), a film directed by YAZAKI Hitoshi. Since then she has starred in numerous films including The Hungry Lion (2017) a feature by OGATA Takaomi which was part of IFFR in 2018. Blue Imagine (2024) is Matsubayashi's directorial debut and will have its world premiere at IFFR 2024.

Matsubayashi Urara

Ogata Takaomi

A high-school teacher is arrested for having sexual relations with a minor. Young Hiromi finds herself in the eye of the storm when she is suspected of featuring in her teacher’s leaked sex video and her innocence is questioned by everyone around her.

IFFR 2018

Voices

Hungry Lion, The

The Hungry Lion

An urgent, bold and composed rallying cry against sexual violence in the Japanese film industry.

In her directorial debut, actress Matsubayashi Urara takes aim at the sexual violence permeating the Japanese film industry through her portrait of Noel and her time at a women's refuge, Blue Imagine. An accomplished address of the nuances of abuse and reclamation of self.

IFFR 2025
30 Jan – 9 Feb 2025

Matsubayashi Urara

Filmography

Matsubayashi Urara at IFFR

The Hungry Lion

Blue Imagine