Jackie Chan Accepts Locarno Career Award and Jokes He “Can Still Fight”

Jackie Chan received Locarno’s Pardo alla Carriera on the festival’s Piazza Grande, drawing a sold-out crowd and telling fans, “I’m 71, and I can still fight,” a remark delivered with a story about his father asking years ago whether he’d still be able to do so at 60. The lifetime honor, sponsored by Ascona-Locarno Tourism, was met with extended applause as the actor struck playful fighting poses on the red carpet before the ceremony.

The tribute extends beyond the award itself. Chan is presenting two films he directed and headlined, “Project A” (1983) and “Police Story” (1985), and is scheduled for a public conversation with attendees the following day. Festival materials note his decades-spanning career and the enduring popularity of his Hong Kong action comedies, a body of work that helped shape global perceptions of martial-arts cinema.

His on-stage quip quickly circulated across entertainment outlets and social platforms during the ceremony, underscoring the enduring curiosity around the 71-year-old star’s stunt-driven persona. Posts amplifying the line appeared from major industry accounts within minutes of the event.

This year’s edition also features multiple honorary tributes. Organizers have slated the festival’s Leopard of Honour for filmmaker Alexander Payne later in the week and a Career Achievement Award for actor Lucy Liu, rounding out a slate of spotlights meant to connect contemporary audiences with long-established screen figures.