Washington DC, Jan. 3 -- The Asian Film Awards Academy has announced significant changes to the format of its upcoming 19th edition, suspending all competitive award categories and cancelling the red carpet ceremony in the aftermath of last year's deadly fire in Hong Kong, according to Variety.

In a statement, the academy said the 2026 ceremony, scheduled to be held in Hong Kong, will move away from its traditional competitive structure and instead focus on presenting special honours in what it described as a "dignified and minimalist manner." The decision follows what the academy termed a "significant incident in Hong Kong last year and its impact on the community."

The revised format aligns with guidance from the Hong Kong Special Adm...