The 15th AVN Awards ceremony, organized by Adult Video News (AVN), took place January 10, 1998 at Caesars Palace, in Paradise, Nevada, U.S. During the show, AVN presented AVN Awards (the industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards) in 54 categories honoring the best pornographic films released between Oct. 1, 1996 and Sept. 30, 1997. The ceremony was produced by Gary Miller and directed by Mark Stone. Comedian Robert Schimmel hosted, with adult film actresses Racquel Darrian and Misty Rain as co-hosts. At a pre-awards cocktail reception held the previous evening, 50 more AVN Awards, mostly for behind-the-scenes achievements, were given out by hosts Nici Sterling and Dave Tyree, however, this event was neither televised nor distributed on VHS tapes as was the main evening's ceremony. Both events included awards categories for gay movies; the final year the show included both gay and heterosexual awards. The gay awards were subsequently spun off into a separate show, the GayVN Awards.
Zazel won the most awards with seven, however, Bad Wives, which received six statuettes, won for best film. Buda won for best shot-on-video feature. Nic Cramer won Best Director—Film for Operation Sex Siege.
Winners and nominees
The winners were announced during the awards ceremony on January 10, 1998. Besides winning best film, Bad Wives also won Best Actress for Dyanna Lauren, Best Actor for Steven St. Croix and Best Screenplay for Dean Nash. Zazel was named best all-sex film and Naked Highway was the best gay video. Johnni Black won Best New Starlet, while Performers of the Year were: Stephanie Swift, female; Tom Byron, male; and Jim Buck, gay.
Major awards
Winners are listed first, highlighted in boldface, and indicated with a double dagger ().
Best Film Bad Wives
Africa Rising Basic Elements Control Doin' the Ritz Heat Lisa
Operation Sex Siege Red Vibe Diaries Satyr The Scope Twisted The Zone Best Shot-on-Video Feature Best Gay Video Buda All About Eva Ancient Secrets of the Kama Sutra Blue Dahlia Crazed Drop Sex: Wipe the Floor Fountain of Innocence The Gift Indigo Delta Impact Miscreants New Wave Hookers 5 Persona Seduce & Destroy A Week and a Half in the Life of a Prostitute Naked Highway An American in Prague Anchor Hotel A Body to Die For Fallen Angel Family Values GoodFellas/BadFellas Hard Core High Tide Jeff Stryker's Underground Journey to Italy A Love Story Marine Crucible Matador Pleasure Principle Tailspin Male Performer of the Year Gay Performer of the Year Tom Byron Mark Davis Rod Fontana Jack Hammer Dave Hardman Mr. Marcus Sean Michaels Rodney Moore Ed Powers Jake Steed Max Steiner Vince Vouyer Jim Buck Drew Andrews Blue Blake Matt Bradshaw Rick Chase Dino DiMarco Paul Morgan Johan Paulik Richard Reyes Lukas Ridgeston Jeff White Female Performer of the Year Best New Starlet Stephanie Swift Chloe Jill Kelly Christi Lake Dyanna Lauren Shanna McCullough Mila Missy Tiffany Mynx Julie Rage Jasmin St. Claire Serenity Stacy Valentine Anita Blond Angelica de la Sol Angel Hart LeeAnna Heart Toni James Midori Mila Alexandra Silk Kobe Tai Vicca Best Actor—Film Best Actress—Film Steven St. Croix, Bad Wives Buck Adams, Filth Mickey G. The Zone Mike Horner, Africa Rising Mike Horner, Smoke & Mirrors Mike Horner, Tight Spot Jonathan Morgan, Sleaze Tony Tedeschi, The Heist Vince Vouyer, Control Dyanna Lauren, Bad Wives Julia Ann, The Heist Lené Hefner, Control Melissa Hill, Sweet Revenge Heather Hunter, Heat Jenna Jameson, Satyr Dyanna Lauren, The Zone Shanna McCullough, Tight Spot Stacy Valentine, Red Vibe Diaries Best Actor—Video Best Actress—Video Tom Byron, Indigo Delta Mickey G., Surrender Dave Hardman, A Pervert Walks Among Us Mike Horner, Crazed Mike Horner, Swinging in the Rain Jonathan Morgan, Makin' Whoopee Jonathan Morgan, Texas Dildo Masquerade Wilde Oscar, Moondance Tony Tedeschi, Blue Dahlia Valentino, Drop Sex: Wipe the Floor Stephanie Swift, Miscreants Brittany Andrews, The Fanny Davia Ardell, Makin' Whoopee Juli Ashton, Scotty's X-Rated Adventure Tricia Devereaux, A Week and a Half in the Life of a Prostitute Morgan Fairlane, Restless Desire Jeanna Fine, Night and Day 3 Nina Hartley, All About Eva Kylie Ireland, Face Jam Sharon Kane, Night of the Living Bi Dolls Jill Kelly, Persona Dyanna Lauren, Bad Girls 9 Shanna McCullough, Seduce & Destroy Missy, Sinister Sister Serenity, Crazed Best Supporting Actor—Film Best Supporting Actress—Film Wilde Oscar, Doin' the Ritz Mark Davis, Corporate Assets 2 John Decker, Tight Spot Jon Dough, Bad Wives Mickey G., Satyr Dave Hardman, Doin' The Ritz Wilde Oscar, Twisted Joey Silvera, Heat Tony Tedeschi, Filth Tony Tedeschi, The Heist Melissa Hill, Bad Wives Asia Carrera, Satyr Sindee Coxx, Control Missy, Satyr Julie Rage, Tattle Tales Misty Rain, Red Vibe Diaries Nikki Sinn, Tight Spot Stephanie Swift, Temporary Positions Kobe Tai, The Show 2 Best Supporting Actor—Video Best Supporting Actress—Video Dave Hardman, Texas Dildo Masquerade Steve Austin, Swinging in the Rain Tom Byron, Enchanted Steve Drake, Uncontrollable Lust Mickey G., Crazed Steve Hatcher, Agent Muff ATF Sean Michaels, Face Jam Jonathan Morgan, Masters of Perversion Peter North, Scotty's X-Rated Adventure Kyle Stone, Lost Angels Scott Styles, First Whore's Club Jeanna Fine, Miscreants Alyssa Allure, Glass Houses Brittany Andrews, Swinging in the Rain Candy Apples, Texas Dildo Masquerade Juli Ashton, New Wave Hookers 5 Alex Dane, Night and Day 3 Alex Dane, Restless Desire Jeanna Fine, New Wave Hookers 5 Nina Hartley, Ginger's Island Melissa Hill, Indigo Delta Missy, Surrender Julie Rage, All About Eva Best Director—Film Best Director—Video Nic Cramer, Operation Sex Siege James Avalon, Red Vibe Diaries Andrew Blake, Paris Chic/Dark Angel Seymore Butts, Willy Red; Dinner Party 2 Stuart Canterbury, Africa Rising Toni English, Heat Kris Kramski, Klimaxx Philip Mond, Zazel Phil M. Noir, Twisted Ralph Parfait, The Scope Paul Thomas, Bad Wives Paul Thomas, The Zone Michael Zen, Satyr Robert Black, Miscreants Brad Armstrong, Ancient Secrets of the Kama Sutra James Avalon, Blue Dahlia François Clousot, SexHibition 5 Gregory Dark, Gregory Dark's The Psycho Sexuals Teri Diver, Tom Elliott; Persona Jim Enright, Seduce & Destroy Toshi Gold, Skin 11: Unbound Ernest Greene, Surrender Jim Holliday, Sorority Sex Kittens 3 John Leslie, Drop Sex: Wipe the Floor Cash Markman, Swinging in the Rain Jonathan Morgan, Indigo Delta Michael Ninn, New Wave Hookers 5 Jace Rocker, Makin' Whoopee Candida Royalle, The Gift John Stagliano, Buda Best Director—Gay Video Best All-Girl Feature Wash West, Naked Highway Sam Abdul, A Love Story Paul Barresi, GoodFellas/BadFellas Kristen Bjorn, Anchor Hotel Bruce Cam, Robert Kirsch; Fallen Angel Kevin Clarke, Pleasure Principle Gino Colbert, John Trennel; Jeff Stryker's Underground Chip Daniels, Marine Crucible Jerry Douglas, Family Values George Duroy, An American in Prague Lucas Kazan, Journey to Italy Derek Kent, A Body to Die For Chi Chi LaRue, Hard Core John Rutherford, High Tide John Travis, Tailspin Michael Zen, Matador Diva 4 Buttslammers 15 Catlickers 4 Diva Everybody Wants Some 3 Femania Jenna's Built for Speed Nasty Girls 15 Possessions Shane's World 6 Violation of Jill Kelly Where The Boys Aren't 9 Best Foreign Release Best European Release (The Hot Video Award) The Fugitive 1 & 2 Anita Betty Bleu Cold Desire Dead Man's Wish Euro Angels The Magnificent 7 Girls Messalina, The Virgin Empress Immortal In Your Dreams Rebecca in Paris II Sexy Killer "Nikyta" Skin: The 8th Consecration Torero Virility President by Day, Hooker by Night Beauty and the Beast No Entry to the Public The Magnificent Seven Mamma Best All-Sex Film Best All-Sex Video Zazel Dark Angel Dinner Party 2 Klimaxx Paris Chic Fresh Meat 4 America's 10 Most Wanted 2 Bombshell Decadence Dirty Days in Hollywood Dreamscape Filthy Coeds Liquid Lust Gregory Dark's The Psycho Sexuals Skin 11: Unbound Sodomania 21 World Sex Tour 10 World Sex Tour 11 Best Gonzo Video Best Sex Comedy Voyeur 7 & 8: Live in Europe Assman Ben Dover's Little Smart Asses Buttman in Barcelona Butt Row Euro Style Buttwoman '97 Cunt Hunt 2 Gluteus to the Maximus Lil' Women: Vestal Virgins Max World 7: Tube Steak Boogie Nice Fuckin' Movie Rock 'n Roll Rocco Shameless Desire Shane's World 5 Tom Byron's Cumback Pussy 7 Cellar Dwellers II The Fanny A Little Piece of My Heart Makin' Whoopee A Pervert Walks Among Us Rainwoman 10 Raw Footage South by Southeast Suggestive Behavior Swinging in the Rain Texas Dildo Masquerade Women Behaving Badly Best Selling Tape of the Year Best Renting Tape of the Year Zazel Bad Wives Buttman in Barcelona Dinner Party 2 New Wave Hookers 5 Rocco More Than Ever Rock 'n' Roll Rocco Satyr Sodomania 22 Where the Boys Aren't 9 Wicked Weapon The World's Luckiest Man New Wave Hookers 5 Bad Wives Ben Dover's English Asscapades Bottom Dweller 5 Buttman in Barcelona Buttman's Bend Over Babes IV Drop Sex: Wipe the Floor The Pyramid 3 Rocco's Private Fantasies Satyr Seymore butts: Gluteus to the Maximus Zazel Best Couples Sex Scene—Film Best Couples Sex Scene—Video Misty Rain, Marc Wallice; Red Vibe Diaries Jon Dough, Dyanna Lauren; Bad Wives Lené Hefner, Vince Vouyer; Control Asia Carrera, Steve Hatcher; Corporate Assets 2 Sean Michaels, Stephanie Swift; Dinner Party 2 Heather Hunter, Steven St. Croix; Heat Alec Metro, Liza Harper; Lisa Nikki Tyler, Rocco Siffredi; Nikki Loves Rocco Alex Sanders, Alyssa Love; Red Vibe Diaries Asia Carrera, Mickey G.; Satyr Steven St. Croix, Ruby (actress); The Show 2 Shanna McCullough, Tony Martino; Tight Spot Gina LaMarca, Jon; Zazel Rocco Siffredi, Ursula Moore; Buda Dyanna Lauren, Peter North; Bad Girls 9 Tony Tedeschi, Roxanne Hall; Blaze Ruby (actress), Colt Steele; Boobwatch Fernanda, Deniro; Brazil on Butt Row Rocco Siffredi, Elizabeth Shay; Buttman in Barcelona Van Damage, Nikki Smalls; Filthy Coeds Mark Davis, Shanna McCullough; The Gift Missy, Mickey G.; Heart & Soul Alex Sanders, Serenity; Lost Angels Nikita, Mickey G.; Gregory Dark's The Psycho Sexuals Ona Zee, Mark Davis; Sex 4 Hire Roxanne Hall, John Decker; SexHibition5 Sindee Coxx, T. T. Boy; Sorority Sex Kittens 3 T. T. Boy, Yumi; Wild Bananas on Butt Row Best Group Sex Scene—Film Best Group Sex Scene—Video Anna Romero, Sasha Vinni, Drew Reese, Kevin James; Zazel Steven St. Croix, Melissa Hill, Stephanie Swift; Bad Wives Vince Vouyer, Sindee Coxx, Lexus; Control Shanna McCullough, Davia Ardell, Peter North; Doin' the Ritz Marcella Reeves, Leslie Grant, Omar Williams; Klimaxx Hijackers' Boat Orgy, Operation Sex Siege Stacy Valentine, Maya, David Steele; Red Vibe Diaries Jenna Jameson, Brad Armstrong, Mickey G.; Satyr Stacy Valentine, Tom Byron, Peter North; Satyr Johnni Black, Kyle Stone, Vince Vouyer; Temporary Positions Krista Maze, T. T. Boy, Alex Sanders; Twisted Sasha Vinni, Brooke Lane, Helene, Antonio Valentino; Zazel Dyanna Lauren, Byron Long, Weed; The Zone Peter North, Alyssa Love, Holli Woods, Katie Gold, Shay Sweet; Gluteus to the Maximus Orgy scene (Dyanna Lauren, Papillon, Tatiana, Jon Dough, Peter North, Vince Vouyer); Ancient Secrets of the Kama Sutra Ann, Alberto Ray, Paschal, Ben Dover; Ben Dover's Little Smart Asses Chloe, Roxanne Hall, Marc Wallice; Blue Dahlia Opening orgy (Monika Kiss, Holly Black, Reka Gabor, Szilvia, Leslie Taylor, Steve Hard, Zenza Raggi, John Walton); Buda Jake Steed, Mark Davis, Mikki Malone, Leah Dawn, Rainahh; Butt Row Unplugged Jake Steed, Lauren Montgomery, Monti; Drop Sex: Wipe the Floor Serenity, Alex Sanders, Sindee Coxx; Lost Angels Dru Berrymore, Jack Hammer, Liza Harper, Randi Lee, Tom Byron; Miscreants