The Locarno Film Festival will celebrate the legendary Jackie Chan with its prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing the martial arts icon’s extraordinary impact on cinema — from redefining Hong Kong action films to becoming a beloved global superstar in Hollywood.
The honor, known as the Pardo alla Carriera (Leopard Career Award), places Chan among a pantheon of cinematic greats and acknowledges a career that has spanned over six decades, more than 150 films, and multiple generations of fans worldwide.
Bridging East and West Through Action and Heart
In a statement, the Locarno Film Festival praised Chan as an artist “beloved for action films that bridged the gap between East and West,” adding that his unique blend of physical comedy, martial arts, and heartwarming charisma helped create an entirely new cinematic language.
Born in Hong Kong and trained at the China Drama Academy under the famed Master Yu Jim-Yuen, Jackie Chan began his career as a child actor in the 1960s. He worked as a stuntman in classics such as King Hu’s “A Touch of Zen” before earning his breakout success with the 1978 films “Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow” and the legendary “Drunken Master.”
These early films laid the foundation for what would become Chan’s signature style — a captivating fusion of jaw-dropping stunts, slapstick comedy, and kung-fu choreography that would set him apart in Hong Kong’s Golden Harvest era of cinema.
Celebrating Chan’s Directorial Classics in Locarno
As part of the tribute, the 71-year-old actor will travel to Switzerland in August to attend the 78th edition of the Locarno Film Festival (running from August 6 to 16, 2025). He will personally introduce two of his most celebrated directorial efforts:
- “Project A” (1983) – a swashbuckling action-comedy that showcases Chan’s flair for inventive fight choreography and nautical-themed stunt work.
- “Police Story” (1985) – widely considered one of the greatest action films ever made, praised for its realistic fights, high-speed chases, and Chan’s commitment to doing his own stunts.
Both films, directed and starring Chan, are considered landmarks in action cinema and will screen at Locarno as part of his career retrospective.
Chan is also scheduled to participate in a special onstage conversation on August 10, where he will discuss his expansive career, creative philosophy, and lasting legacy in film history.
More Than an Actor: A Filmmaker, Choreographer, and Cultural Icon
Although often celebrated for his acting and martial arts skills, Jackie Chan is far more than just a movie star. Over the years, he has also worked as a director, stunt choreographer, screenwriter, producer, singer, and philanthropist.
From orchestrating some of the most dangerous stunts in film history to founding his own production companies and charity organizations, Chan has continuously pushed the boundaries of what’s possible both on and off the screen.
By the 1990s, Chan had become Asia’s highest-grossing action star. His international breakthrough came with 1995’s “Rumble in the Bronx,” which introduced his talents to Western audiences. His 1998 buddy comedy “Rush Hour,” co-starring Chris Tucker, turned him into a household name in Hollywood and solidified his place on the global stage.
In 2017, he was honored with a lifetime achievement Oscar by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, recognizing his “distinctive work and extraordinary achievements in the motion picture industry.”
Locarno Festival’s Artistic Director Pays Tribute
Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, delivered high praise in his official statement:
“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 went on to emphasize Chan’s artistic lineage and originality:
“From his years at the China Drama Academy under Master Yu Jim-Yuen to working at a very young age as a stuntman in King Hu’s ‘A Touch of Zen,’ Chan has continually reinvented martial arts cinema and much beyond it.”
“A pure comic talent, he has absorbed the lessons of Buster Keaton and early cinema as his own, creating masterpieces that have captivated audiences around the world.”
“With a sensibility worthy of the classic musical, he shaped an unprecedented poetics of the human body in motion. In cinema, there is a before Jackie Chan and an after Jackie Chan.”
A Place Among Legends
By receiving the Pardo alla Carriera, Jackie Chan joins a prestigious list of previous honorees, including:
- Francesco Rosi
- Bruno Ganz
- Claudia Cardinale
- Johnnie To
- Harry Belafonte
- Jane Birkin
- Costa-Gavras
- Tsai Ming-liang
- Shah Rukh Khan (2024 recipient)
These artists, like Chan, have left an indelible mark on the art of cinema.
Global Fans Celebrate Jackie Chan’s Legacy
News of the award has already sparked celebration among fans and cinephiles around the world, who have long admired Chan not just for his fearless stunts, but for his enduring dedication to storytelling, humility, and cultural representation.
Whether leaping off buildings, making audiences laugh, or spreading goodwill through humanitarian work, Jackie Chan has proven time and again that he is more than just a martial arts legend — he is a true cinematic innovator and a symbol of perseverance, passion, and artistry.
As the Locarno Film Festival prepares to honor his career, the world is once again reminded of the timeless power of Jackie Chan’s legacy.
