Born in Sfax, Tunisia in 1945 Bouzid began filmmaking studies in 1968
at Institut National des Arts du Spectacle et Techniques de Diffusion
(INSAS) in Brussels. He graduated in 1972 with a short film, _Duel (1972)_.
Returning to Tunisia he worked, from 1972 to 1973 in Tunisian
television but was then arrested and jailed for over five years
(1973-79) for his involvement with the radical Groupe d'Etude et
d'Action Socialiste Tunisian (GEAST).
After his release he worked as an assistant director on several foreign
films shooting in Tunisia, including
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and
The Key to Rebecca (1985). He also
assisted on many Tunisian features as well as working on screenplay
adoptions and dialogue for several important Tunisian films in the 90s
such as _Halfawin 'Usfur Stah (1990)_ by 'Ferid Boughedir'. He made his directorial debut in 1986 with
Man of Ashes (1986), which won the top prize at the carthage film festival. This
film along with his subsequent features, tackled sensitive issues
usually absent from Arab films and established Bouzid as a significant
figure in Maghreb cinema.