Robert Pattinson pulled out of Venice Film Festival to avoid Kristen Stewart

Twilight heart-throb Robert Pattinson did not attend Venice International Film Festival 2015 to avoid former girlfriend, American actress Kristen Stewart. The 29-year-old British actor was scheduled to attend a screening of The Childhood of a Leader, but skipped the event at the last minute, citing filming commitments for The Lost City of Z.

It was previously reported that Pattinson, who is currently dating singer FKA twigs, has been busy shooting for the film in Ireland since early August. Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Stewart was at the annual film festival to promote Equals with her co-star Nicholas Hoult.

"He didn't want the story to be all about how he and Kristen were nearly bumping into each other," a source told the New York Post's Page Six. "Venice is very small ... and there are only so many parties and hotels."

In 2012, Pattinson ended his relationship with Stewart after it was confirmed that she cheated on him with British director Rupert Sanders. Stewart and Sanders, who worked together on Snow White And The Huntsman, were photographed kissing in the Hollywood hills.

The pair patched up their differences and started dating again, and were spotted together at the Coachella Music Festival in 2013. However, the two broke up in May 2013 after Pattinson pulled out of his 27th birthday celebrations planned by Stewart. In an interview with Marie Claire, the Clouds of Sils Maria actress talked about the public scrutiny that came along with her Twilight fame.

"I lit my universe on fire," she said, "and I watched it burn. Speaking very candidly, it was a really traumatic period in my early 20s that kick-started something in me that was a bit more... feral.

"I'm really proud that I am able to move forward and not fall into every mental crater. That's a new thing for me. Age has made me smarter and calmer. And it is f***ing awesome," Stewart added.