Oscar Nominations and Other Hollywood Events Postponed or Canceled Due to LA Fires | Entertainment & Arts News
Hollywood kicked off the New Year energetically with the Golden Globes marking the beginning of the awards season over the weekend.
A few days later, however, the atmosphere in Los Angeles has drastically changed as wildfires rage across the county.
The homes of many stars, including Paris Hilton and Billy Crystal, have been lost, while various celebrities, along with thousands of residents, have been forced to evacuate.
Numerous premieres for films such as the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man and Unstoppable, featuring Jennifer Lopez, were canceled yesterday, and now crucial dates on the awards season calendar are being either postponed or canceled as firefighters continue to combat the wildfires.
Filming has also been suspended on several television shows.
Paris Hilton is among those who have lost their homes. Pic: AP
Critics Choice Awards
The annual ceremony was planned for this weekend but has now been postponed by two weeks to January 26 due to the “catastrophic fires,” as stated by the organizers.
Joey Berlin, the chief executive of the Critics Choice Association, expressed: “This ongoing tragedy has profoundly affected our community.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with those fighting the devastating fires and all who have been affected.”
The rescheduled event will still occur at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and will be broadcast live on E!.
Demi Moore won a Golden Globe over the weekend, but Oscar nominations are now expected to be a more subdued affair. Pic: AP
BAFTA Tea Party
Though the BAFTAs are a UK awards event, organizers hold a networking gathering in the US annually before the show.
The 2025 event was scheduled for the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills this Saturday, but it has now been canceled.
“The safety of our friends, colleagues, and peers in Los Angeles is our foremost concern, and our thoughts are with everyone affected,” said a spokesperson.
Pic: AMPAS
Oscar nominations
Nominations for the pinnacle event of awards season were set to be revealed next Friday, January 17, with films such as The Brutalist, Emilia Perez, Wicked, and The Substance poised to compete.
In response, the academy has reportedly extended the nomination voting window by two days “to provide members with additional time to cast their votes,” shifting the announcement of the shortlists to Sunday, January 19.
Chief Executive Bill Kramer confirmed this in a memo to members, as reported by entertainment outlets like Variety and Deadline.
“We wish to extend our deepest sympathies to those affected by the catastrophic fires across Southern California,” stated the memo.
“Many of our members and industry associates live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you during this difficult time.”
Further details regarding the nominations announcement will be shared soon, he added.
Read more:
Why are there wildfires in January?
‘Truly apocalyptic scenes’ as flames engulf homes
Writers Guild of America (WGA) nominations
The nominations for the awards that honor exceptional writing in film, television, new media, news, radio, and promotional categories were supposed to be announced today.
However, a spokesperson from WGA West and WGA East stated that “given that Los Angeles is under a state of emergency due to multiple wildfires,” the announcement has been rescheduled for Monday, January 13.
The mapping of the Los Angeles wildfires as of Thursday morning
General filming
FilmLA, the agency responsible for granting filming permits in Los Angeles, has issued a warning stating that “the personnel resources typically available to assist film production might not be accessible during the state of emergency.”
The LA County Fire Department has instructed that all filming permits for locations including Altadena, La Crescenta, La Canada Flintridge, and certain parts of Pasadena are now rescinded, as indicated by the agency.
“Additional permit cancellations are also possible,” it stated.
NBCUniversal has announced a halt in the production of TV shows such as Loot, Ted, Suits: LA, Happy’s Place, and Hacks, which recently won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series in the musical or comedy category, alongside a win for actress Jean Smart.
Simon Cowell at the America’s Got Talent quarter-finals in 2024. Pic: Faye’s Vision/Cover Images/AP
America’s Got Talent
Auditions for Simon Cowell’s American edition of the popular talent show were set for Sunday.
In an announcement on Instagram, producers shared that these auditions would be postponed to a date yet to be determined.
“Your safety is our top priority. We will provide a new audition date shortly. Stay safe,” the statement read.
