BAFTA Tea Party, key stop in the Oscar race, canceled due to L.A. wildfires

The annual British Academy of Film and Television Arts Tea Party, a mainstay of the awards circuit, has been canceled for 2025 due to the wildfires that have caused widespread mayhem and two confirmed deaths across the Los Angeles area.

“In light of the dangerous winds and wildfires in Los Angeles, we are cancelling this weekend’s BAFTA Tea Party,” the organization announced in a statement Wednesday. “The safety of our colleagues, friends and peers in Los Angeles remains our utmost priority and our thoughts are with everyone impacted.”

California

5 dead, more than 2,000 structures burned as new fire hits Hollywood Hills

More than 100,000 residents are under evacuation orders because of the wildfires burning across Los Angeles County. Red flag warnings remain in effect for L.A. County and much of Ventura County through Thursday.

Originally scheduled for Saturday at the Four Seasons Hotel at Beverly Hills, the BAFTA Tea Party is a traditional stop for awards hopefuls who want to court members of BAFTA and the film academy — between which there is significant overlap, especially among the British contingent — during the Oscar nominations voting window.

In addition, Friday’s AFI Awards luncheon and Sunday’s Critics Choice Awards have been postponed on account of fire conditions.

More than 1,000 homes, business and other buildings have been destroyed since multiple L.A. County fires broke out Tuesday amid a “life-threatening and destructive” windstorm and more than eight months without measurable rainfall.