Joseph Akiki, a student of the Lebanese University - Faculty of Fine Arts & Architecture (Branch 2, third year - Theater) was awarded "Best Actor" for his role in the "Dictator" played at the "Alexandria Arab Theater Festival for Specialized Institutes and Colleges - 2019".

Among 10 plays from 7 Arab countries, "The Dictator" was one of the first three performances displayed in the festival that took place between December 3-9, 2019. The play was prepared and directed by Hasan Mehyeddine, student of the Faculty of Fine Arts & Architecture (Branch 2, Master) with Joseph Akiki and Roger Ghanem as actors and the technical team consisting of Mohamed Fouani and Charbel Dib. In the play, Joseph plays the role of "Saadoun", the assistant of "The Dictator" who occupies all cities, including the capital, dissolves the parties, executes dozens of people, and forces "Saadoun" to confess that he is the king and then executes him.

According to the director of the play and the actors, the "Dictator" is suitable for every time and place, because it embodies the struggle between the ruler and the ruled, the strong and the weak, and reflects the ongoing anxiety of the present and the future, and the constant worry over anything and everything.

Joseph presents his award to every artist who did not have the opportunity to go up on the stage. He requested from the youth of Lebanon to defend, preserve and protect the Lebanese University from any marginalization because it is the only institution remaining among the "ruins" and which is able to provide a new future to its citizens.