We’re looking forward to introducing you to Hamad Ali. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Hamad, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Giving back to my country, to the youth, emerging filmmakers, and fresh talents, has always been my true passion. There is something incredibly fulfilling about taking the knowledge and experiences I gained abroad and using them to help build a stronger film industry here at home. Every time I see one of my students win an award, land their first job, or gain the confidence to tell their own stories, it feels like a shared victory.
On a personal level, I take pride in constantly pushing myself to grow. Looking back, every decision, even the challenging ones, has brought me closer to becoming the filmmaker and person I have always aspired to be. It is a clear sign that I am on the right track, both for myself and for the community I am working to uplift.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a filmmaker at heart. Since I was a kid, I have been fascinated by the magic of entertainment, putting on little theatrical shows for my family and friends and experimenting with VHS cameras to capture anything I could. That passion led me to earn my Master’s degree in Film Production from Full Sail University, where I deepened my skills and learned to bring stories to life in a powerful way.
Currently, I am working on my debut feature horror film. I have already secured 50% of the budget, and I am halfway through the journey of bringing it to life. The film not only represents a milestone for me personally but also aims to grow the film industry in Bahrain by creating jobs, mentoring youth, and showcasing our stories on a global stage.
Today, my focus is on creating Middle Eastern stories with a global touch. I work on narratives that celebrate our culture while introducing untold perspectives to the world. My mission is to bring our stories to global audiences and share the richness and authenticity of voices from our region.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
It was not always easy growing up as a creative mind. I was always so imaginative and full of ideas, and not everyone around me understood that. Even though my parents were from the health and medical fields , they were the first audience for my mini-movies and stories shot on VHS. They encouraged me to study what I loved, even when they did not fully understand the field or the path I wanted to take.
From a young age, I gravitated toward entertainment, which in our region was not always seen as a practical choice. Still, my parents believed in me because they could see how much joy it brought me. For that, I will always be thankful. Their support taught me resilience and it drives me to keep pushing forward to show them and everyone who has ever encouraged me just how far these ideas can go.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
For a long time, I hesitated to take big leaps of faith or fully believe in my ability to create something extraordinary. Every new idea came with that quiet voice of uncertainty, second-guessing me at every turn. But I eventually realized that the only limits I had were the ones I placed on myself. Once I started trusting my instincts, I discovered how limitless my potential really is. Funny enough, the very fear of trying something different ended up being the spark that pushed me to be more creative and inspired than ever.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
A cultural value I protect at all costs is the authenticity of our stories. Working in the film industry, I have seen how the Middle East, Asia, and especially the Arab world have often been portrayed in narrow or stereotypical ways. I work hard to show that our region has so much more to offer. There is love, passion, depth, and an endless range of stories waiting to be told. My goal is to widen people’s vision and help the world see the richness and beauty that our culture brings to storytelling.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people remember me as a change maker who gave back to my community and my country, Bahrain and the world. Someone who created films that live on, stories that people return to again and again, that entertain them, move them, and sometimes take them away to another world, even if just for a moment. Most of all, I want to leave this world with peace of mind, knowing I did my best to help people grow, hoping they would do the same, creating a domino effect of positive growth through generations to come and if my films can continue to live on after me, like the horror feature I am currently developing, I would feel that I’ve done my part in leaving behind stories that matter.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hamad_abdulla/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hamad-abdulla-ali/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hamad.a.abdulla
