The 78th Locarno Film Festival will celebrate legendary actor Jackie Chan with its coveted Career Achievement Award, in recognition of his decades-long contribution to world cinema. The honor was announced by organizers on Tuesday, in appreciation of Chan’s pioneering efforts in redefining the action genre.
Jackie Chan, the top-grossing action star in Asia during the 1990s, is not only known for his acting but also his varied work behind the camera. He has directed and acted in some cult classics such as The Fearless Hyena (1979), Police Story (1985), and Who Am I (1998), which cemented his position as a film icon. His career is responsible for combining martial arts, comedy, and death-defying stunts into a genre of entertainment that has inspired generations.
Festival Director Praises Versatility of Jackie Chan
Locarno Film Festival artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro honored Chan’s illustrious career and international stature. “Director, producer, actor, screenwriter, choreographer, singer, athlete, and daredevil stuntman, Jackie Chan is both a key figure in contemporary Asian cinema and one whose influence has rewritten the rules of Hollywood cinema,” Nazzaro stated in an official statement.
He further stated, “From his years at the China Drama Academy under Master Yu Jim-Yuen, working at a very young age as a stuntman in King Hu’s masterpiece A Touch of Zen, Chan has continually reinvented martial arts cinema and much beyond it.”
Locarno Film Festival 2025 Dates and Past Honours
The festival, which will run from August 6 to August 16, will feature a special tribute to the action legend as part of its official programme. Shah Rukh Khan, Bollywood superstar, was the first Indian actor to be conferred the same honour, called the Pardo alla Carriera or Career Leopard, at the 77th edition of the festival last year.
With this award, Jackie Chan takes his place with an elite roster of film legends around the world who have been honored for their lasting contribution to cinema.
