Leonardo DiCaprio to Miss Palm Springs Film Fest Gala Due to Venezuela Air Restrictions (EXCLUSIVE)

This year’s Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala will be a touch less star-studded as Leonardo DiCaprio will miss Saturday night’s ceremony amid the developing geopolitical situation in Venezuela.

DiCaprio was set to receive the Desert Palm Achievement Award for his performance in “One Battle After Another.” However, Variety has learned the Oscar winner was not able to leave St. Barts due to air restrictions in the area following the international conflict. DiCpario was photographed on vacation with family and friends, including Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, ahead of the New Year.

Related Stories

'Avatar: Fire and Ash' Crosses $1 Billion After 18 Days

Christmas Eve Box Office: 'Avatar 3' Leads With $10.7 Million, 'Marty Supreme' Earns $2 Million in Previews

“Leonardo DiCaprio is unable to join us in person tonight due to unexpected travel disruptions and restricted airspace,” said a spokesperson for the Palm Springs International Film Festival. “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 released a statement on X announcing that departing flights are at a ground stop. The statement read: “An FAA air traffic control issue is impacting Southern California airspace today. Departing flights are currently under a ground stop. Aircraft have been able to arrive, though some inbound flights have diverted and delays are expected. This is not specific to PSP and is affecting multiple SoCal airports. Travelers should check directly with their airline for the latest flight information. PSP will share updates as needed.”

On Saturday morning, President Donald Trump announced that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cila Flores have been taken into U.S. custody following a military operation overnight.

With “One Battle After Another,” DiCaprio is in the running to win a second best actor Oscar thanks to his performance as an ex-revolutionary who is forced back into his old life in order to rescue his daughter. The film, from director Paul Thomas Anderson, has been an early awards season darling, including winning the best picture prize from the National Society of Film Critics earlier Saturday. DiCaprio is also nominated for best actor at the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday.

Even without DiCaprio’s attendance, the Palm Springs awards gala will feature plenty of A-listers, with honorees including Timothée Chalamet (Spotlight Award), Rose Byrne (Breakthrough Performance Award), Kate Hudson (Icon Award), Michael B. Jordan (Icon Award), Ethan Hawke (Career Achievement Award), Adam Sandler (Chairman’s Award), “Hamnet” director Chloé Zhao as well as actors Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal (Vanguard Award), “Frankenstein” director Guillermo del Toro and actors Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi and Mia Goth (Visionary Award) and “Sentimental Value” cast members Renate Reinsve, Stellan Skarsgård, Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning (International Star Award).