Lucy Liu to Receive Locarno Film Festival Career Honor, Present Int'l Premiere of ‘Rosemead'
The festival will bestow the honor upon Liu on the evening of Thursday, Aug. 14, with the star afterwards set to present her film Rosemead about the Asian American mental health crisis, alongside the film's cast and crew. The actress plays a Chinese immigrant battling a terminal illness while navigating her son's worsening schizophrenia in Eric Lin's directorial debut that premiered at Tribeca.
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The festival audience will also have an opportunity to see and hear Liu the following day during a public conversation event.
'With a career spanning over three decades, critically acclaimed actress and filmmaker Lucy Liu has starred in films that have collectively grossed over $3.7 billion worldwide,' Locarno said. 'From her iconic roles in Kill Bill, Charlie's Angels, Chicago, Set It Up, Presence, and Red One, Liu continues to redefine what it means to be a leading woman in Hollywood.'
They also highlighted: 'Liu's career began with her breakout role in Ally McBeal, earning both Emmy and SAG nominations, and she has since become a pioneering force in television. Her extensive credits include standout series like Why Women Kill, Elementary, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Star Wars: Visions, and A Man in Full.'
The Locarno team also put a spotlight on Liu's other artistic work. As a visual artist and recipient of the Harvard University Arts Medal, her mixed-media paintings and sculptures have been exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide, including the National Museum of Singapore, the Napa Valley Museum, and the New York Studio School. She has also been commissioned to create a series of paintings for the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne for 2026.
'Lucy Liu's influence on both film and television is immeasurable. A master of reinvention, she has consistently delivered powerful performances that challenge the status quo,' Giona A. Nazzaro, artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival, highlighted. 'Her career spans genres and mediums, from action blockbusters like Charlie's Angels to poignant dramas like Soderbergh's Presence, with each role adding depth and complexity to her already impressive body of work.'
Concluded Nazzaro: 'As a producer, director, and humanitarian, her influence extends beyond acting – whether it's her powerful documentaries like Meena or her innovative work on the Emmy-nominated The Pirate Queen VR experience. It is a true privilege to host Lucy Liu on the Piazza Grande and to present a project as intimate and transformative as Rosemead – a testament to her ever-evolving artistry. Her fearless choices and groundbreaking performances continue to inspire audiences and redefine what it means to be an artist in the 21st century.'
The 78th Locarno festival runs Aug. 6-16. Hong Kong and global film icon Jackie Chan will also attend it to receive a Pardo alla Carriera, or Career Leopard award.
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