Aoun Honors director Khabbaz for his 'refined art and committed message'

BEIRUT — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Thursday decorated artist Georges Khabbaz, a playwright, director, and actor, with the Lebanese Order of Merit, silver grade, "in recognition of his talent combining refined art and a committed cultural message."

According to a statement published on the presidency's social media accounts, Khabbaz's talent "has enriched the artistic scene with creative works embodying the Lebanese social reality in its intellectual and historical dimensions." In presenting him with his medal, Aoun praised the playwright's "professionalism" and wished him "success and perseverance" in his work.

Lebanon at the heart of "intellectual and cultural influence"

For his part, the artist, originally from Batroun, affirmed that he will continue his artistic and cultural mission "so that Lebanon remains a center of intellectual and cultural influence."

Khabbaz is multidisciplinary, being an actor, playwright, screenwriter, director, producer, and composer. Khabbaz's work, born in 1974, mixes humor, emotion, and social critique in theatrical pieces in which he often performs. He also gained international recognition with his film Ghadi, released in 2013, which tells the story of a father defending his disabled son against the prejudices of a village.

Ghadi was selected as Lebanon's representative at the 2014 Oscars in the best foreign film category and screened at numerous international festivals. Recently, Khabbaz won the Best Actor award at the Rotterdam Arab Film Festival for his role in the film Younan by director Amir Fakhreddine, an award for which he was also congratulated by the Lebanese president.