Thoms was born in Sydney.
He was nominated for at the 1979 AFI Awards for Best Original Screenplay for the drama film Palm Beach.[1] He is best known for his work with Ubu Films, the Sydney Filmmakers’ Co-operative, and the Yellow House. He made a number of short films.[2]
As well as Polemics for a New Cinema (1978), Thoms wrote Surfmovies, (2000) a history of the Australian surfing film, published by Shore Thing, Noosa. His memoir ‘My Generation’ (2012)[3] was published shortly after his death by Media21 publishing.
He has also contributed to The Documentary Film in Australia publication as well as providing catalogue essays for Bohemians in the Bush (1991) and Belle-Ile: Monet, Russell and Matisse in Brittany (2001), both for AGNSW, and Then and Now and Everything in Between (2010), Mosman Art Gallery,
He died in Sydney, New South Wales on 28 November 2012, aged 71
