LA wildfires disrupt Hollywood events, awards season

The Palisades Fire burns a structure in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia)

LOS ANGELES – The wind and firestorm ravaging parts of Los Angeles threw a wrench into Hollywood’s awards season, with some scheduled events postponed or altered Wednesday.

The 30th annual Critics Choice Awards ceremony, which was scheduled for Sunday at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, was postponed until Jan. 26 due to the fires.

“This unfolding tragedy has already had a profound impact on our community,” Critics Choice Association CEO Joey Berlin said in a statement.

“All our thoughts and prayers are with those battling the devastating fires and with all who have been affected.”

The rescheduled event will still be broadcast on E! and be available for streaming the next day on Peacock.

The American Film Institute’s annual AFI Awards luncheon — honoring the organization’s picks as the top films and television programs of the year — that had been scheduled for Friday at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills was also postponed.

“Given the tragedies that prevail in Los Angeles, the spirit of community we strive for at AFI Awards will be unachievable on Friday, and so we will be postponing the event,” according to a statement from AFI.

No new date was immediately announced.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that in light of the Southern California wildfires, the nomination voting period for the Oscars that began Wednesday and was scheduled to end Sunday has been extended until Jan. 14. The Oscar nominations announcement that had been scheduled for Jan. 17 was pushed back until Sunday, Jan. 19.

American Cinematheque, meanwhile, canceled all of its scheduled film screenings on Wednesday, and also postponed Thursday’s scheduled Tribute to the Crafts event. The organization said in a statement the moves were made “out of an abundance of caution and respect for our community and staff.”

Wednesday night’s performance of “Wicked” at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre was canceled due to the fires. Ticketholders were expected to receive automatic refunds. A piano concerto by Igor Levit at the Walt Disney Concert Hall was Also scrubbed.

The BAFTA Tea Party that was scheduled for Saturday was canceled. The AARP Movies for Grownups Awards ceremony that was set for Saturday at the Beverly Wilshire hotel was also postponed.

“We extend our sympathies to all who are affected (by the fires),” according to a statement from the AARP. “AARP will provide a new date and time for the awards as soon as possible.”

The SAG-AFTRA union on Wednesday morning announced nominations for the 31st annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, but its planned live-stream announcement was canceled in light of the fires.

Instead, the union simply issued a press release announcing the nominees. (CNS)