Born in 1946. Gidal studied theatre, psychology and literature at Brandeis University, Massachussets, 1964-68, and the University of Munich from 1966-7. He studied at the Royal College of Art from 1968-71 where he went on to teach Advanced Film Studies until 1984. He was an active member of the London Film-makers' Co-operative since 1969, and Cinema Programmer there from 1971-4. Co-founder of the Independent Film-makers' Association, 1975, he served as a member of the British Film Institute Production Board, 1978-81.

His films have been screened nationally and internationally, including the Tate Gallery, the Hayward Gallery, and yearly since 1969 at the Edinburgh Film Festival and the National Film Theatre. Gidal has had retrospectives of his films at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in 1983, Centre George Pompidou, Beaubourg, Paris, 1996, amongst others. International screenings include several each at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Royal Belgium Film Archive and Cinematheque, Documenta, Arte Inglesi Oggi, X-Screen, etc. He is the recipient of the Prix de la Recherche, Toulon 1974.

Gidal is renowned as a writer and theorist, in particular for his highly influential publication 'Structural Film Anthology' (BFI 1976), other books include 'Andy Warhol: Films and Paintings' (Studio Vista, 1971, Da Capo NY reprint. 1991) and 'Materialist Film' (Routledge, 1988). Gidal's writings have been published extensively in journals including Studio International, Screen, October and Undercut. He is also known for his research and writings on Samuel Beckett, including 'Understanding Beckett: Monologue and Gesture' (Macmillan, 1986).