Leonardo DiCaprio will not attend the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala due to air restrictions stemming from conflict in Venezuela. The actor was scheduled to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his role in One Battle After Another but remains stuck in St. Barts.
Leonardo DiCaprio's absence from the Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala on Saturday night highlights the unexpected impact of international tensions on Hollywood's awards season. The Oscar winner was set to be honored with the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his performance in Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, where he plays an ex-revolutionary drawn back into his past to rescue his daughter. The film has garnered early acclaim, winning the best picture prize from the National Society of Film Critics earlier that day, and DiCaprio is nominated for best actor at the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday.
Variety reports that DiCaprio could not depart from St. Barts, where he was vacationing with family and friends, including Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, due to restrictive airspace following an international conflict in Venezuela. On Saturday morning, President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cila Flores, had been taken into U.S. custody after an overnight military operation.
A spokesperson for the festival stated: “Leonardo DiCaprio is unable to join us in person tonight due to unexpected travel disruptions and restricted airspace. While we will miss celebrating with him in person, we are honored to recognize his exceptional work and lasting contributions to cinema. His talent and dedication to the craft continue to inspire, and we are delighted to celebrate him with the Desert Palm Achievement Award this evening.”
Palm Springs International Airport issued a statement noting a ground stop for departing flights caused by an FAA air traffic control issue affecting Southern California airspace. Arrivals were possible, but delays and diversions occurred across multiple airports.
Despite DiCaprio's no-show, the gala will feature stars like Timothée Chalamet, Kate Hudson, Michael B. Jordan, Ethan Hawke, Adam Sandler, Chloé Zhao, Guillermo del Toro, and others receiving various awards.
