For most of his life, a narrow street in Batroun's old souks has belonged to Georges Khabbaz in every way except on paper. It was his route to school, the backdrop of his childhood and, years later, a film set. Now it carries his name.
A surprise at Casino du Liban
Batroun Mayor Marcelino El Hark announced the naming on the opening night of the 20th Beirut Shorts International Film Festival at Casino du Liban. According to Al Jadeed, the municipal council took the decision unanimously. Khabbaz, who was in the audience, could not hold back tears.
Born in 1976, the actor, writer and director turns 50 this year. In an Instagram post after the ceremony, he described the honor as a birthday gift he never imagined, and thanked the people of Batroun, his family and the municipal council.
The street where Ghadi was filmed
The newly named street sits in the old market area where scenes from Ghadi (2013) were shot. Khabbaz wrote the film and played its lead, a music teacher in a small coastal town whose newborn son has special needs and is rejected by the neighbors. Amin Dora directed it.
For Khabbaz, the location goes back much further than the film. He has said the same street took him to school and toward Mar Estephan Square, where he gave his first theater performance.
Thirty years of building a body of work
Khabbaz started on stage as a teenager in the 1990s and has since written, directed and starred in more than 18 plays. On screen, his roles include Under the Bombs (2007), set during the 2006 war, and Silina. More recently, he appeared in Yunan, directed by Ameer Fakher Eldin.
He has also run the business side of his work for most of that time. Khabbaz Production, a family company specializing in performing arts management, was founded by Khabbaz and began operating in 1998, according to a company profile.
National recognition came in June 2025, when President Joseph Aoun awarded him the Lebanese Order of Merit, silver grade, for work that reflects Lebanon's social reality.
Batroun's growing tie to film
The tribute also strengthens Batroun's link to Lebanese cinema. The Beirut Film Society, which organizes Beirut Shorts, also runs the Batroun Mediterranean Film Festival in the town.
For visitors walking through the old souks, the new sign adds one more stop to a town already known for its old houses, seafront and festivals. For Khabbaz, it marks the street where his story began, now with his name on the wall.
