Jackie Chan to Receive Locarno Film Festival Lifetime Honor

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This summer, the renowned action star Jackie Chan from Hong Kong is set to attend the 78th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. The reason for his visit is to receive the distinguished Career Leopard award, a prestigious recognition, as announced by festival organizers on Tuesday.

The festival will award an honor to Chan on Saturday, Aug. 9 in the evening, with the actor additionally scheduled to present his films “Project A” (1983) and “Police Story” (1985). Both of these movies were projects where he served as both lead actor and director, and they will be shown as part of a tribute to his illustrious career.

On Sunday, August 10, the attendees of the festival can engage in a public conversation with Chan during a special event.

Giona A. Nazzaro, the director of the Locarno Film Festival, emphasized that Jackie Chan is not just a significant figure in modern Asian cinema but also someone whose impact has reshaped the norms of Hollywood filmmaking. From his training at the China Drama Academy under Master Yu Jim-Yuen and his early work as a stuntman in King Hu’s classic, “A Touch of Zen“, Chan has consistently pushed the boundaries of martial arts cinema and far beyond it.

Nazzaro further explained: “He possesses an innate comic genius, embodying the teachings of Buster Keaton and early cinema as if they were his own, crafting works that have enthralled global audiences. His artistic sensibility recalls the grandeur of classic musicals, and he has uniquely developed a poetic language expressing the beauty of moving human bodies.

His conclusion: “In cinema, there is a before Jackie Chan and an after Jackie Chan.”

Locarno referred to Chan as a “megastar from Asia, a renowned filmmaker, and a staple in Hollywood, admired for his action movies that connected Eastern and Western cultures.” Furthermore, they mentioned that he has been one of the world’s most identifiable figures for nearly six decades.

Starting out as a child actor in the 1960s, Chan eventually achieved success in 1978 with the films “Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow” and “Drunken Master”. Over the following decade, his unique mix of kung-fu comedy proved to be a consistent hit for Golden Harvest, the renowned Hong Kong studio. With his daring stunts and charming persona, he attracted legions of devoted fans to cinemas, as stated by Locarno.

By the 1990s, Chan had become Asia’s most financially successful action star, and his career subsequently expanded to Hollywood. As Locarno put it, the buddy comedy “Rush Hour” (1998) solidified Chan’s status as a global superstar unlike any before him.

Apart from acting, Chan has also taken up the role of a film director, with productions like “Police Story” and “Armour of God” (1986) under his belt.

The Pardo alla Carriera award is presented with the backing of Ascona-Locarno Tourism, who serves as the destination partner for the Locarno festival.

Notably, past award recipients encompass the likes of Francesco Rosi, Bruno Ganz, Claudia Cardinale, Johnnie To, Harry Belafonte, Mario Adorf, Jane Birkin, Costa-Gavras, Tsai Ming-liang, and more recently, the esteemed Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan.

The 78th Locarno festival runs Aug. 6-16.

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2025-04-29 09:24