The AVN Awards are film awards sponsored and presented by the American trade magazine AVN (Adult Video News) annually to honor achievements in the global adult entertainment industry. The awards are often called the "Oscars of porn".Multiple sources:
The award ceremony occurs in early January during the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. AVN sponsored the first AVN Awards ceremony in February 1984. Since 2008, the show has aired in a form edited for time on Showtime, which is usually broadcast in a 90-minute time slot.
The awards are divided into over 100 categories, some of which are analogous to industry awards offered in other film and video genres, and others specific to pornographic/erotic film and video.
Awards for gay adult video were a part of the AVN Awards from the 1987 ceremony through the 1998 ceremony. The increasing number of categories made the show unwieldy. For the 1999 ceremony AVN Magazine began hosting the GayVN Awards, an annual adult movie award event for gay adult video.
Design and categories Award design
The design of the AVN Award changed several times before reaching its present form in 2013 when it was redesigned as part of the 30th anniversary of the awards show. The redesigning effort was led by Michael Krasun and supervised by AVN CEO Theo Sapoutzis. Krasun was a veteran with 25-plus years of experience in the designing, fabricating and building of restaurants, nightclubs, airport facilities and theme fixtures around the world.
The makers aimed to create an artifact that represented "sexual expression, integrity and exotic flair", and after months of work arrived at a figurine that showcased "two people in a very erotic embrace, yet without any explicit details of the bodies on display". This impressive resultant figurine was conferred the official AVN award going forward.
All the award trophies are hand-poured and custom mixed, containing 40 percent resin and 60 percent ground marble, making them very sturdy. An epoxy coating with a mix of bronze powders is applied as final finish. A solid black stone base with the award winners details is engraved on the front side. The artifact, from its inception to fabrication, was accomplished entirely in the US.
Award categories
Best Actor Best Actress Best Supporting Actor Best Supporting Actress Male Performer of the Year Female Performer of the Year Male Foreign Performer of the Year Female Foreign Performer of the Year Transgender Performer of the Year Director of the Year Best New Starlet Best Director Best Non-Sex Performance Best Cinematography Best All-Sex Video Best Renting Title of the Year Best Selling Title of the Year Best Film Best Video Feature Best Foreign Feature Best Tease Performance Best All-Girl Sex Scene Best All-Girl Feature Best Newcomer – Gay Video Best Bi-Sexual Video Best Gay Video Best Actor – Gay Video Best Supporting Actor – Gay Video Best Director – Bi-Sexual Video Best Director – Gay Video Best Screenplay – Gay Video Best Sex Scene – Gay Video Best Non-Sexual Performance – Bi, Gay, or Trans Video Best Gay Alternative Video Best Gay Solo Video Best Gay Specialty Release Best Videography – Gay Video Best Alternative Adult Feature Film Most Outrageous Sex Scene Best Sex Comedy Best Trans Newcomer Breakthrough Award Best Performer of the Year – Gay Video Best Male Newcomer Best Director – Foreign Release Best Classic Release Best DVD Best High Definition Production Unsung Starlet of the Year Best High-End All-Sex Release Best All-Sex Release Best MILF Release Best Director – Feature Best Director – Foreign Feature Best Boy/Girl Scene Best All-Girl Couples Sex Scene MILF Performer of the Year
Honorary award AVN Hall of Fame
Listed winners The winners of the AVN Award in various major categories since they began in 1984 have been listed.
1984–1989 (f) – film (v) – video 198419851986198719881989Best New StarletRachel AshleyGinger LynnAngelBarbara DareSamantha StrongAjaBest Actress (f)Sharon Mitchell SexcapadesPamela Mann X FactorSheri St. Claire Corporate AssetsColleen Brennan Getting PersonalKrista Lane Deep Throat IIOna Zee Portrait of an AffairBest Actress (v)Ginger Lynn Project GingerNina Hartley Debbie Duz DishesShanna McCullough Hands OffBarbara Dare Naked StrangerBest Actor (f)Richard Pacheco IrresistibleEric Edwards X FactorHarry Reems Trashy LadyMike Horner Sexually Altered StatesJohn Leslie Firestorm IIRobert Bullock Portrait of an AffairBest Actor (v)Eric Edwards Dangerous StuffBuck Adams Rockey XRobert Bullock Romeo and JulietJon Martin Case of the Sensuous SinnersBest Supporting Actress (f)Tiffany Clark Hot DreamsLisa De Leeuw Dixie Ray, Hollywood StarLisa De Leeuw Raw TalentColleen Brennan Star AngelTish Ambrose Firestorm IINina Hartley Portrait of an AffairBest Supporting Actress (v)Jacqueline Lorains Beauty & the BeastBest Supporting Actor (f)Richard Pacheco Nothing to HideJohn Leslie FirestormRon Jeremy Candy Stripers IIJoey Silvera She's So FineMichael Gaunt Firestorm IIJamie Gillis Pretty Peaches IIBest Supporting Actor (v)Richard Pacheco Sensual EscapeBest Non-Sex PerformanceJose Duval PillowmanBest Director (f)Cecil Howard ScoundrelsAnthony Spinelli Dixie Ray, Hollywood StarCecil Howard Snake EyesCecil Howard Star AngelRichard Pacheco Careful, He May be WatchingAlex de Renzy Pretty Peaches 2Best Director (v)Henri Pachard Long Hard NightsPaul Vatelli Erotic Zones IIJerome Tanner Club ExoticaHenri Pachard Talk Dirty to Me, Part VJohn Leslie CatwomanBest CinematographyKen Gibb All American GirlsFred Andes Dixie Ray, Hollywood StarLarry Revene Raw TalentSandy Beach Star AngelElroy Brandy Firestorm IIMr. Ed Miami Spice IIBest All-Sex VideoC.T. (Coed Teasers)UnthinkableBall BustersWild ThingsBaby Face IIAngel PussBest Renting Title of the YearTraci, I Love YouThe Devil in Mr. HolmesBest Selling Title of the YearTraci, I Love YouMiami Spice IIBest FilmScoundrelsTalk Dirty To Me Part IIIRaw TalentDevil In Miss Jones 3Careful, He May Be WatchingPretty Peaches 2Best Video FeatureBlue VoodooLong Hard NightsDangerous StuffBlame It on GingerRomeo and JulietThe CatwomanBest Foreign FeatureGrand EcstasyThe ArrangementProgrammed For PleasureThe Comeback of MarilynForbidden PleasuresThe Devil in Mr. Holmes
1990–1994 19901991199219931994Best New StarletVictoria Paris and Tori Welles (tie)Jennifer StewartSavannahAlex JordanShayla LaVeauxFemale Performer of the YearAshlyn GereDebi DiamondMale Performer of the YearRocco SiffrediJonathan MorganBest Actress (f)(no award given)Hyapatia Lee The MasseuseJeanna Fine Hothouse RoseAshlyn Gere ChameleonsRoxanne Blaze JustineBest Actress (v)Sharon Kane Bodies in Heat The SequelLauren Brice Married WomenOna Zee The StarletAshlyn Gere Two WomenLeena Blinded By LoveBest Actor (f)(no award given)Randy Spears The MasseuseBuck Adams RoxyMike Horner The Seduction of MaryMike Horner JustineBest Actor (v)Jon Martin Cool SheetsEric Edwards The Last X-Rated MovieTom Byron SizzleJoey Silvera The PartyJonathan Morgan The CreasemasterBest Supporting Actress (f)(no award given)Deidre Holland VeilBritt Morgan On TrialOna Zee The Secret Garden 1 & 2Tianna JustineBest Supporting Actress (v)Viper Mystery of the Golden LotusNina Hartley The Last X-Rated MovieSelena Steele SirensMelanie Moore The PartyPorsche Lynn Servin' It UpBest Supporting Actor (f)John Martin Pretty Peaches 3Jon Dough Brandy and AlexanderJoey Silvera Face Dance, Parts I & IISteve Drake Whispered LiesBest Supporting Actor (v)Rick Savage Bedman and ThrobbinRon Jeremy Playin' DirtyMike Horner BiteTony Tedeschi SmeersRandy Spears Haunted NightsBest Non-Sex PerformanceNick Random True LoveJose Duval Oh, What a NightCarl Esser On TrialJ.B. Dirty Little Mind of Martin FinkJonathan Morgan Haunted NightsBest Tease PerformanceTracey Adams Adventures of ButtmanChantelle Bend Over BabesTianna Indian Summer, Parts 1 & 2Racquel Darrian Bonnie and ClydeTianna JustineBest Director (f)Henri Pachard The Nicole Stanton Story, Parts 1 & 2Andrew Blake House of DreamsJohn Stagliano Wild Goose ChaseJohn Stagliano Face Dance, Parts I & IIPaul Thomas JustineBest Director (v)Jean-Pierre Ferrand and Peter Davy Voodoo LustPaul Thomas Beauty & the Beast 2Scotty FoxThe Cockateer(Tie) Alex de RenzyTwo Women and Anthony Spinelli The PartyJim Enright Haunted NightsBest All-Girl Sex Scene (f)Chameleons Ashlyn Gere and Deidre HollandHidden Obsessions Janine Lindemulder and Julia AnnBest All-Girl Sex Scene (v)True Love Barbara Dare and April WestThe New Barbarians Victoria Paris and Sabrina DawnAmerican Buttman in London Misty McCaine and Carrie Jones(no award given)Buttslammers 2 The Flashlight Orgy (Celeste, Felecia, Lia Baren, Sydney St. James and Tianna)Best CinematographyNight Trips Andrew BlakeHouse of Dreams Andrew BlakeWild Goose Chase John StaglianoFace Dance, Parts I & II John StaglianoHidden Obsession Andrew BlakeBest All-Sex VideoHello MollyButtman's Ultimate WorkoutButtman's Ultimate WorkoutRealities 2The Bottom DwellerBest All-Girl FeatureWhere the Boys Aren'tGhost LustersButtwomanKittens IIIButtslammersBest Renting Title of the YearThe Nicole Stanton StoryPretty Peaches 3The MasseuseChameleonsNew Wave Hookers 3Best Selling Title of the YearThe Nicole Stanton StoryHouse of DreamsNew Wave Hookers 2ChameleonsFriday Night DelightsBest FilmNight TripsHouse of Dreams(Tie) On Trial and Wild Goose ChaseFace Dance, Parts 1 & 2JustineBest Video FeatureMad LoveBeauty and the BeastCurse of the CatwomanThe PartyHaunted NightsBest Foreign Feature(no award given)(no award given)(no award given)(no award given)Private Video Magazine 19901991199219931994Best Newcomer Gay VideoRyan YeagerJason RossDanny SommersB.J. SlaterZak SpearsBest Bi-Sexual VideoBi and Beyond IIIThe Last Good BiInnocence FoundDown Bi LawValley of the Bi DollsBest Gay VideoUndercoverMore of a ManJumperKiss-OffAbduction 2 & 3Best Actor Gay VideoTim Lowe FratrimonyJoey Stefano More of a Man, All Worlds VideoRyan Yeager JumperMichael Brawn Kiss-OffJohnny Rey Romeo and JulianBest Supporting Actor Gay VideoRyan Yeager StrandedJason Ross One Night StandsWes Daniels Songs in the Key of SexZak Spears Total CorruptionBest Director Bi-Sexual VideoPaul Norman Bi and Beyond IIIPaul Norman Bi and Beyond IVPaul Norman Innocence FoundJosh Eliot Down Bi LawJosh Eliot Valley of the Bi DollsBest Director Gay VideoJohn Travis UndercoverTaylor Hudson The RiseJean-Daniel Cadinot The Traveling JourneymanChi Chi LaRue Songs in the Key of SexSam Abdul Romeo and JulianBest Screenplay Gay VideoJerry Douglas More of a ManJim Steel Prince CharmingStan Mitchell Songs in the Key of SexJerry Douglas Honorable DischargeBest Sex Scene – Gay VideoHeat in the Night Lon Flexxe and Bill MarloweThe Rise Ryan Yeager and Scott BondFetish Ryan Yeager and Jason RossScorcher Erik Houston and Chris StoneRomeo and Julian Johnny Rey and Grant LarsonBest Non-Sexual Performance Bi, Gay, or Trans VideoChi Chi LaRue More of a ManSharon Kane Majestic KnightKenneth Weyerhaeuser Kiss-OffGino Colbert Honorable DischargeBest Gay Alternative VideoChi Chi LaRue's Hardbody Video MagazineBest Gay Solo VideoStraight to BedMen Who Work It AloneThe Beat CopPumping FeverBest Gay Specialty ReleaseMale Genital MassageBest Videography Gay VideoJohn Trennell Idol EyesMark Thomas FetishEllary Stag DisconnectedTodd Montgomery Abduction 2 & 3Best Alternative Adult Feature FilmBeach Babes from Beyond
1995–1999