The Locarno Film Festival will honor Jackie Chan with a lifetime achievement award, recognizing his contributions to martial arts cinema and his transition to a global Hollywood star.
The Swiss festival, known for celebrating independent cinema, described Chan as “beloved for action films that bridged the gap between East and West.”
Chan, 71, made his mark in Hong Kong’s martial arts films before achieving Hollywood fame with the 1995 film Rumble in the Bronx and the successful Rush Hour series. He will attend the festival in Switzerland, where he will introduce his early films, Project A (1983) and Police Story (1985). Both films, which he directed and starred in, will be featured as part of the tribute to his career.
A highly versatile filmmaker, Chan has co-directed, produced, and performed stunts for many of his 150-plus movies. He began his career as a child actor in the 1960s and found major success in 1978 with Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow and Drunken Master. Over the following decade, his unique kung-fu comedy style, blending daring stunts with charm, made him a box-office favorite in Hong Kong, especially with the Golden Harvest studio.
By the 1990s, Chan became Asia’s highest-grossing action star. His role in the 1998 buddy comedy Rush Hour solidified his Hollywood career and global fame.
In 2017, Chan received an honorary Oscar for his work in the film industry.
Locarno’s Artistic Director, Giona A. Nazzaro, praised Chan for his impact on both Asian and Hollywood cinema. “From his early days at the China Drama Academy and as a stuntman in A Touch of Zen, Chan has reinvented martial arts cinema. His comic genius, influenced by Buster Keaton, has captivated audiences worldwide,” said Nazzaro.
Locarno’s Pardo alla Carriera Award has previously honored luminaries such as Francesco Rosi, Bruno Ganz, Claudia Cardinale, and Johnnie To. This year’s recipient, Shah Rukh Khan, will also be celebrated at the 78th edition of the festival, taking place from August 6-16.
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