Jackie Chan to Receive the Pardo alla Carriera at Locarno Film Festival 2025

The 78th Locarno Film Festival will celebrate the career of global screen legend Jackie Chan with its highest honor, the Pardo alla Carriera (Lifetime Achievement Award), presented with the support of Ascona-Locarno Tourism. The award ceremony will take place on the evening of Saturday, August 9, 2025, on the iconic Piazza Grande.

As part of the tribute, Chan will personally introduce two of his most celebrated films — Project A (1983) and Police Story (1985), both of which he also directed and starred in. On Sunday, August 10, fans will have a rare chance to attend a public conversation with the beloved superstar.

A Six-Decade Career That Transcended Borders

With nearly 60 years in the film industry, Jackie Chan is one of the most iconic and internationally recognized figures in cinema. His journey began as a child actor in the 1960s, but it was the late 1970s that catapulted him to stardom with hits like Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow and Drunken Master.

Chan’s unique blend of kung-fu action and slapstick comedy made him a box office sensation throughout the 1980s with Golden Harvest, earning him legions of loyal fans and solidifying his reputation for breathtaking, often self-performed stunts.

From Hong Kong to Hollywood: A Global Phenomenon

By the 1990s, Jackie Chan had become Asia’s highest-grossing action star — a title that paved the way for his Hollywood breakthrough. Rush Hour (1998) established Chan as a global superstar, and his role in the film remains a touchstone in international cinema.

Behind the camera, Chan has proven just as innovative, directing classics like Police Story and Armour of God. His style blends high-impact choreography with comic timing, echoing silent film masters like Buster Keaton while developing a wholly original cinematic voice.

Giona A. Nazzaro: “A Pure Comic Talent, A Cinematic Milestone”

Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, praised Chan’s creative legacy: “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.” He continued: “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… In cinema, there is a before Jackie Chan and an after Jackie Chan.”

Joining a Hall of Cinematic Legends

The Pardo alla Carriera, supported by Ascona-Locarno Tourism, celebrates excellence in cinema and cultural contribution. Past recipients include Shah Rukh Khan, Jane Birkin, Costa-Gavras, Tsai Ming-liang, Claudia Cardinale, and Harry Belafonte.

Jackie Chan’s inclusion places him among the most influential talents ever recognized by the festival — a symbol of his trailblazing impact across continents and generations.

The 78th Locarno Film Festival will run from August 6 to August 16, 2025.