The present invention provides a photoalignment film composition containing a compound represented by general formula (1) and a compound having a hydrophilic group and a (meth)acryloyloxy group, an optically anisotropic medium using a photoalignment film comprised of the photoalignment film composition, and a method for preparing thereof: (wherein, R1 and R2 respectively and independently represent a hydrogen atom, halogen atom, carboxyl group or alkali metal salt thereof, halogenated methyl group, halogenated methoxy group, cyano group, nitro group, —OR5, hydroxylalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, —CONR6R7 or methoxycarbonyl group, and R3 and R4 respectively and independently represent a carboxyl group or alkali metal salt thereof, sulfo group or alkali metal salt thereof, nitro group, amino group, carbamoyl group, alkoxycarbonyl group, sulfamoyl group or hydroxyl group).