Lucy Liu to receive Career Achievement Award at Locarno

Widely celebrated for her iconic performances across film, television, and stage, Lucy Liu will be honoured with the prestigious Career Achievement Award at the Locarno Film Festival on Thursday, August 14, 2025. Following the award ceremony, Liu will present the international premiere of Rosemead (2025), directed by Eric Lin, alongside the film’s cast and crew on the Piazza Grande. The following day, she will engage in a public discussion with the festival audience at the Forum @ Spazio Cinema.

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. 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. In Rosemead, Liu portrays an ailing woman racing against time to protect her son from his violent obsessions in this gripping drama inspired by true events. In addition to starring in the film, Liu also serves as a producer.

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. Beyond acting, Liu has proven herself a multifaceted artist, directing episodes of Marvel’ s Luke Cage, Elementary, Why Women Kill, and American Born Chinese (2023), while also receiving acclaim for her documentary short Meena (2014), which tackled human trafficking. As a producer, she championed impactful projects like Freedom’s Fury and Redlight, and recently voiced and produced the Emmy-nominated VR experience The Pirate Queen (2024), which is expanding into a graphic novel.

A celebrated visual artist and recipient of the Harvard University Arts Medal, Liu’s 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 is being commissioned to create a series of paintings by the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne for 2026. As a UNICEF Ambassador for over two decades, Liu’s humanitarian efforts have earned her prestigious accolades, including the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award and the Women’s World Award.

Liu also became only the second Asian American woman in nearly 60 years to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. With an unwavering commitment to pushing creative and cultural boundaries, Lucy Liu continues to inspire across all mediums—from film and television to art, literature, and humanitarian work.

Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director: “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. From her breakout role in Ally McBeal, where she earned Emmy and SAG nominations, to her unforgettable portrayal of O-Ren Ishii in Tarantino’s Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Liu has forged a path that few can follow. 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. Liu has also made a lasting impact on television, with standout performances in Why Women Kill, Elementary, and others, solidifying her place as one of the most versatile actresses of her generation. 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.”