This summer, Hong Kong and international film legend Jackie Chan will grace the 78th edition of the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland to receive the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera, also known as the Career Leopard award, as unveiled by organizers on Tuesday. On the evening of Saturday, August 9, the festival will honor Chan, who will also present his films "Project A" (1983) and "Police Story" (1985), both of which he starred in and directed, as a tribute to his illustrious career.
Furthermore, festival-goers will have the rare opportunity to witness and hear Chan during a public conversation event on Sunday, August 10. Giona A. Nazzaro, the artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival, emphasized, "As a director, producer, actor, screenwriter, choreographer, singer, athlete, and daredevil stuntman, Jackie Chan stands as a pivotal figure in contemporary Asian cinema, whose influence has revolutionized the norms of Hollywood cinema. From his early days at the China Drama Academy under Master Yu Jim-Yuen, to his groundbreaking stunts in King Hu's masterpiece 'A Touch of Zen,' Chan has continuously redefined martial arts cinema and beyond."
Nazzaro continued, "With a pure comic talent, he has assimilated the lessons of Buster Keaton and early cinema into his own style, creating masterpieces that have mesmerized audiences worldwide. With a sensibility akin to classic musicals, he has crafted an unprecedented poetry of the human body in motion." In conclusion, Nazzaro stated, "In cinema, there exists a period before Jackie Chan and one after him."
Locarno hailed Chan as an "Asian megastar, a master filmmaker, and a Hollywood staple celebrated for his action films that have bridged the cultural divide between East and West." They added that for nearly six decades, he has been one of the most recognizable faces globally. After beginning his career as a child actor in the 1960s, Chan achieved success in 1978 with "Snake in the Eagle's Shadow" and "Drunken Master." Over the following decade, his blend of kung-fu comedy became a surefire box-office hit for Golden Harvest, the legendary Hong Kong studio, with his daring stunts and easygoing charisma drawing legions of fans to theaters.
By the 1990s, Chan had become Asia's highest-grossing action star, paving the way for a successful Hollywood career. "The buddy comedy 'Rush Hour' (1998) cemented Chan's status as a global superstar unparalleled by any before him," Locarno noted. Chan has also lent his talents behind the camera, directing films such as "Police Story" and "Armour of God" (1986).
The Pardo alla Carriera award is presented with the support of Ascona-Locarno Tourism, the destination partner of the Locarno festival. Previous recipients include Francesco Rosi, Bruno Ganz, Claudia Cardinale, Johnnie To, Harry Belafonte, Mario Adorf, Jane Birkin, Costa-Gavras, Tsai Ming-liang, and last year, Bollywood legend Shah Rukh Khan. The 78th Locarno festival will run from August 6 to 16.
