Bassam Mohammed Al Thawadi was born in Bahrain on December 13th, 1960.
He grew up in Al-Qudaibiah (in the capital Manama) from 1962 until
1969. His father had a job in Saudi Arabia, during those years he
started his hobby of photography. From 1974 to 1978 he made his own
series of short films on 8mm - in 1979 he went to Cairo to study film
direction and Graduated from the Higher Institute of Cinema (Cairo) in
1982. During his study he directed a short drama film, Al Qina'a (The
Mask) shot on 16mm - Cairo - 1981 and his graduation project was a
Short drama, Malaekat Al Ardh (Angels of the Earth) on 16mm - Cairo -
1982.
He joined Bahrain TV on May 4th, 1985, made a lot of Variety programs
for the local TV. He also produced Programmes which were broadcast in
all Arab countries which are members of the Arab States Broadcasting
Union (ASBU). During that Al Thawadi has also directed and produced a
number of commercials, educational and cultural programs. In 1990 he
produced and directed Long feature film
Al-hajiz (1990) (The Barrier),
considered the first feature film produced in Bahrain, the film has
been entered into several regional and international film festivals.
After 14 years from the first feature film, he directed co-produced
_Visitor (2004)_ in 2003, considered the second feature film produced
in Bahrain and first Dolby sound system in the Gulf, produced by
Bahrain Cinema Company and Mr. Al Thawadi. Between those two films he
directed many documentary films, in 2006 he directed "A Bahraini Tale"
considered the third feature film produced in Bahrain and first DTS
sound system in the Gulf , produced by Bahrain Film Production Company
and Mr Al Thawadi
He also directed a lot of Bahrain TV drama productions and acted in a
drama production for local TV. In theatre he performed in many plays
His other activities include holding a solo photography show in Cairo
in 1980, being selected as a member of the judging committee of the
Baghdad International Television and Film Festival in 1988, selected as
a member of the judging committee of the Abu Dhabi Cultural Complex
Video Film Festival in 1991, selected as the chairman of the judging
committee in Al Sawari Video Festival of 1994 and many similar
selections. He organized the New Egyptian Cinema Days Festival in
Bahrain in co-operation with the Information Ministry and the Bahrain
Cinema Club in 1993. He was General organizer and director of the Fifth
Arab Music Festival which was held in Bahrain in November 1996. Founder
and general director of the First Arab Cinema Festival in Bahrain in
2000 Organised a number of lectures and seminars dealing with cinema in
the Gulf and Bahrain.
Currently he is a Full-time film director Ministry of Information since
2007 - Bahrain.
