Kassem Hawal
Film Director and writer
He was borne 1940 in Almdaina - Basra, Iraq.
He began to work at theatre in his early youth.
1957 He founded a theatre group in Basrah. He wrote, directed and acted in many plays.
1959 he joined the “Institute of Fine Arts” in Baghdad where he studied acting and directing for five years.
During his study time he wrote many Teleplays and stage plays acting in some of them himself. At that time he was responsible for the culture pages in many newspapers.
After graduating from the art institute he found together with some of his friends a company called (Film Today) which produced the film (Al – Haris – The Guard) for which he wrote the story and played one of the major roles. The film was directed by Khalil Shouki and won a prize in silver at Cartage film festival, 1968.
The company “Film Today” brought out a magazine (Cinema today) of which Hawal was the editor in chief. The magazine was closed down later on for political reason.
Together with other artists he founded a group called (Theatre Today) which produced many plays for the stage in addition to some Teleplays.