Montreal: International movie star Jackie Chan is the recipient of this year's World Film Festival Special Grand Prix of the Americas award.

WFF president Serge Losique says, "Jackie Chan is not only one of the greatest artists of Asian and World cinema, but also an artist whose humanism is remarkable. In a different way he reminds me of Charlie Chaplin's humanism. If we are today keen on Asian movies based on martial arts, this is mostly thanks to Jackie Chan. I am proud to welcome him during this 25th edition."

Chan will be present in Montreal on Sept. 1. The award ceremony program will be marked with a screening of one of Chan's favorite movies, says Losique.

Earlier, festival organizers announced a special award and tribute program for international movie star Sophia Loren, and the world premiere screening of the actor's latest film, Francesca e Nunziata, directed by Lina Wertmuller.

Joining the legendary Chan and Loren, WFF also announced producer Dino De Laurentiis (La Strada, Hannibal) has agreed to chair Conference 2001, a WFF symposium on international film production and distribution. Conference dates are Aug. 27-28.

The 25th edition of WFF runs Aug. 23 to Sept. 3. *

-www.ffm-montreal.org.