After 50 years of absence, Rivoli Cinema in Rayak is making a comeback—not just as a tribute to its past but with a new and refreshed identity. The restoration project began as a personal initiative by its owners, Elias Chebabi and Kamal Okeis, grandsons of the cinema’s founders, Jean and Yacoub Chebabi.
Despite Lebanon’s recent crisis, the renovation efforts never stopped. Other members of the cinema’s founding family, now residing in the United States, continued to support the restoration, which is now nearing completion. The revived Rivoli Cinema is set to play a new cultural and social role, serving the people of the region.
Elias Chebabi, one of the project supervisors and a family member, expressed his enthusiasm for the cinema’s reopening. He emphasized that the venue will serve as a space for social connection, where people from different political, cultural, and ideological backgrounds can come together and engage in respectful dialogue.
He also revealed that the cinema will cater to all age groups, hosting theatrical performances for nearby schools, many of which lack proper performance spaces. It will provide a platform for developmental initiatives led by local and international organizations to benefit the community.
Kamal Okeis, another family member, reminisced about his childhood memories at Rivoli in the 1960s—the films that entertained children and audiences of all ages, and the vibrant street in front of the cinema that once served as a gathering place before the screenings.
This initiative is more than just a restoration; it is a cultural, social, and symbolic revival. It aims to foster dialogue and acceptance among all Lebanese, creating a shared space for community growth and rekindling a sense of the country's "golden era."