01Biography / Bassam Al Thawadi

Bassam
Al Thawadi.

Director. Producer. Screenwriter.

A life in cinema, rooted in Bahrain and told through film, television, theatre and festivals.

Explore the journey
Bassam Al Thawadi
Bahrain / Bassam Al Thawadi01—BA

01Beginnings

It began
with 8 mm.

Between 1974 and 1978, Bassam Al Thawadi made a series of short films on 8 mm. Those early experiments began a journey towards the big screen.

He studied directing at the Higher Institute of Cinema in Cairo, graduating in 1983. In 1990, he produced and directed The Barrier, Bahrain’s first feature film.

8 mm / 1974–1978Bahrain · Cairo
Bassam Al Thawadi with a crew on location
Cinema is a shared craft. A moment from the production archive.BA / BEHIND THE CAMERA

02Selected milestones

Years that
tell a story.

Selected moments from the original biography. The full work and participation records are preserved below.

  1. First frames

    A series of short films made on 8 mm.

  2. Studying cinema

    Graduated in directing from Cairo’s Higher Institute of Cinema.

  3. The Barrier

    Produced and directed Bahrain’s first feature film.

  4. A space for Arab cinema

    Founded and directed the First Arab Cinema Festival in Bahrain.

  5. Visitor & A Bahraini Tale

    Two further feature films in the directorial filmography.

  6. National recognition

    Received the Order of Competence, First Class, on 16 December.

03The practice

A creative life.
Many stages.

Cinema

Short films, feature films and the work of directing and producing.

Television & theatre

Drama, documentaries, variety programmes and theatre productions.

Festivals & teaching

Festival organisation, jury participation, lectures and training.

1990The Barrier2003Visitor2006A Bahraini Tale

From the supplied materials / A dated record

The story continues.

Selected milestones from the supplied biographies, honours and jury lists, including additions through 2025.

  1. 1983

    Studying cinema

    Graduated in directing from Cairo’s Higher Institute of Cinema, according to the supplied short biography.

  2. 1985–2015

    Broadcasting career

    Worked at Bahrain’s broadcasting authority from 4 May 1985 until retirement on 13 December 2015.

  3. 1999–2003 / 2021–2023

    Bahrain Cinema Club

    Two terms leading the Bahrain Cinema Club, as recorded in the supplied full biography.

  4. 2019

    Film and broadcasting honours

    Honoured by Made with Passion Festival and the Isa Cultural Centre on 17 May, and by the Arab States Broadcasting Union on 27 June.

  5. 2021

    Saudi Film Festival

    Honoured at the seventh edition on 1 July 2021.

  6. 2022

    Gulf Radio and Television Festival

    Honoured at the fifteenth edition on 21 June 2022.

  7. 2024

    Festival and professional activity

    The supplied materials record jury participation at the Gulf Cinema Festival in Riyadh and Oran International Arab Film Festival, and an appointment on 3 October as Vice President of the General Union of Arab Artists and head of its Bahrain national centre.

  8. 2025

    Jury participation

    The supplied jury list records participation at Hurghada Youth Cinema Festival in September and Gaza International Women’s Cinema Festival in October.

Works, honours and festival juries

04The original website record

The life, in detail.

Works, activities and honors as recorded in the original biography. Open a chapter to read its complete contents.

01

Original personal profile

bassam2 bassam1

Film Director, Producer and Script Writer

Mailing & contact

Mailing address:

P.O.Box 33223 – Kingdom of Bahrain.

Tel: (+973) 39666466

Office: (+973) 17613130

E-Mail: bassam.althawadi@gmail.com

References

Biographical details

Date of Birth: 13/12/1960-Bahrain

Married to the Bahraini Jewellery Designer Mrs. Donya Ahmed Al Wazzan

02

Cinema productions (director and producer)

  • Series of short films on 8mm from 1974 to 1978
  • Short drama film Al Qina’a (The Mask) shot on 16mm in 1981
  • Short drama Malaekat Al Ardh (Angels of the Earth) on 16mm in 1982
  • Long feature film Al Hajiz (The Barrier) in 1990, considered the first feature film produced in Bahrain, also produced by Mr Al Thawadi; the film has been entered into several regional and international film festivals. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390072 (opens in a new tab)
  • Long feature film VISITOR in 2003,considered the secound feature film produced in Bahrain and first Dolby sound system in the Gulf , produced by Bahrain Cinema Company and Mr Al Thawadi. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390606/ (opens in a new tab)
  • Long feature film A BAHRAINI TALE in 2006,considered the thired feature film produced in Bahrain and first DTS sound system in the Gulf , produced by Bahrain Film Production Company and Mr Al Thawadi http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0879222/ (opens in a new tab)
    • Official selection of Dubai International Film Festival December 2006
    • Official selection of New York Arab and Asian Film Festival February 2007
    • Official opening for Emirates Films Compotation-Abu Dhabi March 2007
    • Official selection of 7thRotterdam Arab Film Festival June 2007
    • Official selection of Osian's CineFan9th Festival of Asian&Arab CinemaJuly 2007
    • Official selection of Wahran Arab Film Festival-AlgeriaAugust 2007
    • Official selection of Islamic Golden Minber Film Festival-Kazan-RussiaSeptember 2007
    • Official selection of Amal Arab-Europe International Film Festival-Santiago - SpainOctober 2007
    • Official selection of Arab Film Festival-Brussel - October 2007
03

Television production (director and script writer) - Variety programmes

  • F8 in 1985; Alwan (Colours) in 1985
  • Zoom in 1985People and
  • Eid in 1985
  • Klakait (Clap Board) in 1986
  • Cinema Video in 1986, 1987 and 1988
  • Farhat Al Eid (The Joy of Eid) in 1986
  • Al Sahra Al Maftooha (The Open Forum – Cinema, Theatre and Songs), six parts produced in 1987 and 1988
  • Take Two in 1987
  • Bath Ghair Mubasher (Non-Live Broadcast) in 1991
  • Talvezyoon Suwar Al Mulawan (Coloured Images Television) in 1994
  • A number of video clips and songs
  • Programmes which were broadcast in all Arab countries which are members of the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU): 1. Nagham(Rhythm) 2. Ray (Opinion) 3. Leqaa (Face to Face) 4. Hayaa94 (Corporation 94) All these programs were broadcast through the Arab Satellite (Arab sat).
Mr Al Thawadi has also directed and produced a number of commercials, educational and cultural programs.
04

Television production (director and script writer) - Documentary Films

  • Al Bahrain Wajh Mushreq (The Shining Face of Bahrain) in 1986
  • WatanWa Muwatin (A Nation and a Citizen) in 1987
  • The Intellectual and Cultural Relationship between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in 1986
  • The Citizen- The Tree of Life in 1987
  • New Dawn in 1986
  • Arad Fort in 1988
  • Priceless Pearls in 1997
  • Pure Pearls 1998
  • Bahrain (The Island of the shining smile) in 1998
  • Bahrain Flower of Love in 1999
  • Endurance Race in 2001.
05

Drama Productions (director)

  • Al Ain (The Spring) in 1988
  • YounisWa Al Akheroun (Younis and Others) in 1989
  • Eyoun Tahat Al Jumjuma (Eyes Under the Skull) in 1990
  • Fatat Ukhra (Another Girl) in 1992
  • Hassan Wa Noor Al Sana (Hassan and Noor Al Sana from One Thousand and One Nights) in 1995 (This program was awarded for the best lighting and effects and best secondary role actor at the Cairo Television Festival in 1995)
  • Al Hareb (The Fugitive) in 1995.
  • Mr Al Thawadi also acted in a drama production: Shuaraa Al Arab (Arab Poets) in 1985.
06

Theatre Productions

  • 1The Author, written by Ali Salem and awarded the first prize in the First Theatre Festival in Kuwait in 1985 (actor)
  • Hold on It, written by Hassan Ownn in 1985 (actor)
  • Othello Returns in 1981 (actor)
  • Operetta Al Nakhla (The Palm Tree), written by Hamad Al Shehabi and performed in 1982 (director)
  • Farah and Marah Festival for Dalah Al Baraka Group in Saudi Arabia in 1988 (director)
  • Operetta Sada Al Ashwaq (Echoes of Love) in 1991 (director)
  • Operetta Tahiya Ela Abu Salman (Greetings to Abu Salman) in 2001 (director)
  • Operetta Ash Hamad (Long Lives Hamad) in 2002 (director)
07

Other Activities

    • Acting General Director for Radio and Television at Information Affairs Authority – Bahrain 1stJune, 2013 until 13th December 2015 (Retired)
    • BA in Cinema direction and production from Higher Institute of Cinema (Cairo) in 1982
    • Media Training Course – Communications for Development – Bahrain 1997
    • Directors of TV Production Course – Damascus- Syria 1997
    • Employed at the BRTC (Bahrain Radio&Television Corporation) from 4th May, 1985 until 13th December, 2015 (Retired)
    • Board Member of Ministry of Information Training Center – Bahrain 1997-2001
    • A Part time TV lecturer- Bahrain University-Information Section 2001-2004
    • Project Consultant for Al-Enma’a House – August 2007
    • Held a solo photography show in Cairo in 1981
    • Represent BRTC in so many conferences and meetings like:
    1. Directors of GCC Televisions meeting-Gulf Cooperation Council Joint Program Production (GCCJPP)-Kuwait 1996
    2. Sattelite Channels meeting for members of Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) (Arab States Broadcasting Union) -London 1996
    3. Emergency meeting to organize between the satellite channels members of ASBU (Arab States Broadcasting Union) -Beirut May 1999-Cairo June 1999
    4. Attend GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Ministers of Information meeting-Riyadh 1997
    5. Seventeenth Meeting of the Higher Committee for coordination between Arab satellite channels in Ramallah – Palestine January 2014
    • Organised the New Egyptian Cinema Days Festival in Bahrain in co-operation with the Ministry of Information and the Bahrain Cinema Club in 1993
    • General Organiser and Director of the ASBU (Arab States Broadcasting Union) 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
    • Member, Committee for Studying Orders of the MemberStates of the World Trade Organization (WTO)License Unit TV and Radio Corporation-2004
    • Member, Movies Censorship Committee-Bahrain Ministry Of Information-2004 Until today
    • Member of the Executive Office of the General Federation of Arab Artists - 2010 till today
    • Organised a number of lectures and seminars dealing with cinema in the Gulf and Bahrain
    • Conducted several training sessions for television broadcasters, directors and radio announcers
    • Presented a research paper on The Reality of Cinema in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) at the Arab Cinema Symposium in Kuwait in 1995
    • Founding member of the G.C.C Cinema Society
    • Represent Bahrain in so many Art, TV, Cinema and International Festivals
    ·         Member of Bahrain Cinema Club Since 1985 and President  1999 – 2003
08

Selected as Judge

  • Selected as a member in the judging committee of the Baghdad International Television and Film Festival in 1988
  • Selected as a member in 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
  • Selected as a member in the judging committee at the Fourth International Radio and Television Festival in Cairo in 1998
  • Selected as a member in the judging committee at the Sixth Gulf Television Production Festival held in Bahrain in March 1999
  • Selected as a member in the judging committee for the State Appreciation Award in Arts, Culture, Literature and Social and Humane Sciences in Kuwait in 2001-2002-2003-2004
  • Selected as a member in the judging committee at the Arab Film Festival in Paris – Documentary Films section in 2002
  • Selected as the chairman of the judging committee in The Tostmaster Clubs in Bahrain for their theater Contest Faces Phases in 24th. June 2005
  • Selected as a member in the judging committee at The Emirates Film Competition in Abu Dhabi March 2007
  • Selected as a member in the judging committee at Al Jazeera Documentary International Film Festival in Doha, Qatar April 2007
  • Selected as a member in the judging committee at Dubai International Film Festival in Dubai, UAE December 2007 http://dubaifilmfest.com/ar/page/80/2007.html (opens in a new tab)
  • Selected as the chairman of the judging committee in Bahrain Human Rights International Film Festival, May 2008
  • Selected as a member in the judging committee at The 16th Damascus International Film Festival, November 2008
  • Selected as a member in the judging committee at Dubai Film Connection in Dubai, UAE December 2009
  • Selected as a chairman in the Internation judging committee at Gulf Film Festival in Dubai, UAE April 2011 http://gulffilmfest.com/ar/archives/year-2011/juries/ (opens in a new tab)
  • Selected as a chairman in the Internation judging committee at Abu Dhabi Film Festival in Abu Dhabi, UAE October 2014 http://www.sanadfilmfund.com/ar/archive/2014/juries (opens in a new tab)
  • Selected as a member in the judging committee at Sharjah International Children’s Film Festival, Sharjah, October 2017
  • Selected as a member in the judging committee at All Lights India International Film Festival, RAMOJI FILM CITY, Hyderabad December 2017
  • Selected as a chairman in the Short Films ( Stories from Oman ) judging committee at Muscat International Film Festival in Mascat, Oman April 2018
  • Selected as a member in the judging committee at the 19th Arab Radio and Television Festival – ASBU - Tunisia – April 2018 – June 2019
  • Selected as a member in the judging committee at the 34th Alexandria Film Festival – Egypt – October 2018
  • Selected as a member in the judging committee at the 2nd Kuwait Film Festival – Kuwait – October 2018
  • Selected as a chairman in the Internation judging committee at Al Nahj 5th International Film Festival –Karbala-Iraq- April 2019
  • Selected as a chairman in the Internation judging committee at Al Ain 1st Film Festival – Abu Dhabi - April/May 2019
  • Selected as a chairman in the Festival Internation Du Film Arabe De Meknes judging committee – Morocco - June 2019
09

Bassam Honoring

  • Holds the Order of the efficiency of the first class from His Majesty the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain on December 16, 2015
  • Honored by the Mayor of the French city Nantes, Jean - Marc Ayrault and imitate him in the city of Nantes medal for his contribution towards the development of the film industry in Bahrain and the Arabian Gulf region on November 27th, 1999
  • Honored by the Abu Dhabi Cultural Council and the Circle Conference for his cinematic contributions to the Gulf and the Arab world. He was honored by the American Director (Spike Lee) – 2008
  • Honored by the Kuwait Cinema Club and the National Council for Culture and Arts in Kuwait for his cinematic efforts in the Arabian Gulf - 17 January 2012
  • Honored in the 5th Gulf Film Festival in Dubai (April 2012) with the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to strengthening the regional film industry and his pioneering role in the Bahraini film industry, directing the country’s first feature film, The Barrier, in 1990. http://gulffilmfest.com/ar/archives/year-2012/honoree/ (opens in a new tab)
  • Honored by the Festival of Passion and Essa Cultural Center in recognition of his great contribution to the Bahraini film movement on 17 May 2019-Bahrain
  • Honored by the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU) on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its founding in recognition of its generous efforts and the advancement of the Union and appreciation for its active contributions in supporting its long career on 27 June 2019

Original wording is preserved; phrases such as ‘until today’ refer to the source’s publication date.