Jackie Chan Thrills Locarno at 71: “I Can Still Fight”

Jackie Chan, the Hong Kong legend and global action icon, was greeted with thunderous applause at the 78th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, where he received the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera (Career Leopard) award. The honor comes 64 years into his remarkable film career.

Taking the stage in Locarno’s Piazza Grande, Chan charmed the crowd with a cheerful “Buona sera” and a wave. Holding the award, he joked about its weight before thanking the festival, the audience, and filmmakers worldwide who have “made me look good.” He gave special thanks to his fans, saying, “Because of you, I am standing here.”

Chan recalled his father once asking if he could still fight at 60. “I’m 71. I still can fight,” he told the delighted audience. He closed with a call for “love and peace” and blew kisses, adding “Ti amo!”

The celebration began long before he appeared on stage. Fans in Jackie Chan T-shirts filled the square, waving signs and chanting his name. Excitement soared when he was spotted on the big screen taking balcony photos, and grew even more when he arrived on the red carpet holding two stuffed panda toys. He greeted fans with waves, smiles, and even a martial arts pose, while a video montage highlighted his signature stunts and comedic action style.

Festival-goers had been buzzing about Chan since the day before, sharing sightings on social media. Alongside the award, Chan introduced two of his classic films, Project A (1983) and Police Story (1985), both of which he starred in and directed.

Locarno’s artistic director, Giona A. Nazzaro, called Chan a “dream come true” for Hong Kong cinema fans, praising his influence on both Asian and Hollywood filmmaking. The festival described him as a megastar whose work has bridged East and West, constantly reinventing martial arts cinema since his early training at the China Drama Academy and stunt work in A Touch of Zen.

The Career Leopard award, supported by Ascona-Locarno Tourism, has previously gone to legends such as Claudia Cardinale, Johnnie To, Costa-Gavras, Tsai Ming-liang, and Shah Rukh Khan.