29th AVN Awards

The 29th AVN Awards ceremony, presented by Adult Video News, honored the best pornographic movies and adult entertainment products of 2011 of the United States and took place January 21, 2012, at a new venue, The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Paradise, Nevada. Movies or products released between Oct. 1, 2010 and Sept. 30, 2011 were eligible. The ceremony was televised in the United States by Showtime. Comedian Dave Attell hosted the show for the second time. He first presided over the 27th ceremony held in 2010, and shared the 29th ceremony with co-hosts Bree Olson and Sunny Leone. The awards show was held together with the Adult Entertainment Expo and Internext at the same venue.

On January 11, 2012, AVN announced in a press release that for the first time the AVN Awards ceremony would climax with "the presentation of an all-encompassing grand accolade," Movie of the Year. "Even since the beginning, when we presented separate awards for Best Film and Best Video Feature, there's been no definitive AVN Award equivalent to Best Picture. Now we have one," said AVN senior editor Peter Warren. Rather than nominees, contenders would be chosen from the winners in the categories of: Best All-Sex Release, Best All-Sex Release – Mixed Format, Best All-Girl Release, Best Gonzo Release, Best Vignette Release, Best Comedy, Best Feature, Best Foreign Feature, Best Parody – Comedy and Best Parody – Drama. Voting for Movie of the Year would be conducted just prior to the January 21 ceremony, in a secret meeting of core members of the AVN Awards committee, to ensure winners of the 10 categories remain secret until their presentation. The event would also unveiled a new annual award, the Visionary Award, "created to recognize and honor a leader in adult entertainment who has propelled innovation and taken his company—and the business as a whole—to new heights."

The Rocki Whore Picture Show: A Hardcore Parody and Asa Akira Is Insatiable 2 won the most awards, nine and seven respectively, but the Movie of the Year award went to Portrait of a Call Girl. Portrait also won for Best Feature, Best Actress for Jessie Andrews and Best Director — Feature for Graham Travis. Rocki Whore won Best Director—Parody for Brad Armstrong, Best Screenplay—Parody for Armstrong and Hank Shenanigan and Best Parody — Comedy, among others. Insatiable 2 won Best All-Sex Release, Best Director — Non Feature for Mason and several best sex scene awards for Asa Akira and her co-stars. Individually, Akira won or shared six awards, but the coveted Female Performer of the Year and Best New Starlet awards went to Bobbi Starr and Brooklyn Lee respectively. Lee took home five awards on the night and four went to Starr. Manuel Ferrara won his fourth Male Performer of the Year award, more than anyone else in the event's 29-year history.

Winners and nominees


The nominees for the 29th AVN Awards were announced on Dec. 6, 2011 in a press release. Those nominees were Gary Kirker from Las Cruces, New Mexico. The film receiving the most nominations was The Rocki Whore Picture Show: A Hardcore Parody with 18, while performer/director Bobbi Starr had the most individual nominations with 16. The winners were announced during the awards ceremony on January 21, 2012.

Major Awards
The first AVN Movie of the Year Award went to Portrait of a Call Girl, which qualified for consideration by winning Best Feature. The other movies in the running were: Asa Akira Is Insatiable 2 (Best All-Sex Release), Bobbi's World (Best All-Sex Release – Mixed Format), Cherry 2 (Best All-Girl Release), Dangerous Curves (Best Gonzo Release), Prison Girls (Best Vignette Release), Grindhouse XXX (Best Comedy), Mission Asspossible (Best Foreign Feature), The Rocki Whore Picture Show: A Hardcore Parody (Best Parody – Comedy) and Spider-Man XXX: A Porn Parody (Best Parody – Drama).

Additional major awards are listed below with winner first and highlighted in boldface followed by the rest of the nominees.

Additional Award Winners
Best Classic Release appeared on the 2012 list of categories that nominations were to be accepted for, however, no nominees or winner were announced for that category.

DVD Categories
 * Best All-Girl Series: Women Seeking Women
 * Best All-Sex/Vignette Series: The Bombshells
 * Best Amateur Release: Dare Dorm 4
 * Best Amateur Series: The Dancing Bear
 * Best Anal Series: Evil Anal
 * Best Animated Release: Alice in Wonderland: A XXX Animation Parody
 * Best BDSM Release: Disciplined
 * Best Big Bust Release: Big Wet Tits 10
 * Best Big Bust Series: Big Tits in Uniform
 * Best Big Butt Release: Kelly Divine Is Buttwoman
 * Best Big Butt Series: Phat Bottom Girls
 * Best DVD Extras: The Rocki Whore Picture Show: A Hardcore Parody, Wicked Pictures
 * Best Educational Release: Jessica Drake's Guide to Wicked Sex: Fellatio
 * Best Ethnic-Themed Release – Asian: Asian Booty 2
 * Best Ethnic-Themed Release – Black: Big Wet Black Tits 3
 * Best Ethnic-Themed Release – Latin: Escaladies
 * Best Ethnic-Themed Series: Big Ass Brazilian Butts
 * Best Fem-Dom Strap-On Release: Beggin’ for a Peggin’ 
 * Best Foot/Leg Fetish Release: Nylons 8
 * Best Foreign All-Sex Release: Ink
 * Best Foreign All-Sex Series: Young Harlots
 * Best Gonzo Series: Raw
 * Best Internal Release: Internal Damnation 4
 * Best Interracial Series: Lex the Impaler
 * Best MILF Release: Seasoned Players 16
 * Best MILF Series: Seasoned Players
 * Best New Line: Extreme Comixxx
 * Best New Series: The Bombshells
 * Best Older Woman/Younger Girl Release: Mother-Daughter Exchange Club 17
 * Best Oral Release: American Cocksucking Sluts
 * Best Oral Series: Face Fucking Inc.
 * Best Orgy/Gangbang Release: Gangbanged
 * Best Overall Marketing Campaign – Company Image: Digital Playground
 * Best Overall Marketing Campaign – Individual Project: The Rocki Whore Picture Show: A Hardcore Parody, Wicked Pictures
 * Best Packaging – Video: This Ain't Ghostbusters XXX 3D, Hustler Video
 * Best POV Release: Double Vision 3
 * Best Pro-Am Release: Breakin' 'Em In 14
 * Best Pro-Am Series: Brand New Faces
 * Best Special Effects: Horizon
 * Best Specialty Release – Other Genre: Bush
 * Best Specialty Series: Buttman's Stretch Class
 * Best Squirting Release: Lesbian Bukkake 17
 * Best Transsexual Release: The Next She-Male Idol 3
 * Best Transsexual Series: America's Next Top Tranny
 * Best Young Girl Release: Cuties 2
 * Best Young Girl Series: She's So Cute
 * Clever Title of the Year: Beggin' for a Peggin' 

Retail and Distribution Categories
 * Best Boutique: Good Vibrations, San Francisco
 * Best Retail Chain: Hustler Hollywood
 * Best Adult Distributor: IVD/East Coast News

Performer/Creator Categories
 * Best Art Direction: The Rocki Whore Picture Show: A Hardcore Parody
 * Best Cinematography: Axel Braun, Eli Cross, Spiderman XXX: A Porn Parody
 * Best Director – Feature: Graham Travis, Portrait of a Call Girl
 * Best Director – Non Feature: Mason, Asa Akira Is Insatiable 2
 * Best Director – Parody: Brad Armstrong, The Rocki Whore Picture Show: A Hardcore Parody
 * Best Double-Penetration Scene: Asa Akira, Mick Blue & Toni Ribas, Asa Akira Is Insatiable 2
 * Best Editing: Scott Allen, The Rocki Whore Picture Show: A Hardcore Parody
 * Best Group Sex Scene: Asa Akira, Erik Everhard, Toni Ribas, Danny Mountain, Jon Jon, Broc Adams, Ramón Nomar, John Strong, Asa Akira Is Insatiable 2
 * Best Makeup: Shelby Stevens, Melissa Makeup, The Rocki Whore Picture Show: A Hardcore Parody
 * Best Music Soundtrack: Elvis XXX: A Porn Parody
 * Best Non-Sex Performance: James Bartholet, The Rocki Whore Picture Show: A Hardcore Parody
 * Best Original Song: "Stuck in Your Crack," Elvis XXX: A Porn Parody
 * Best POV Sex Scene: Andy San Dimas, Bobbi Starr, Erik Everhard, Double Vision 3
 * Best Screenplay: Jacky St. James, Dear Abby
 * Best Screenplay – Parody: Brad Armstrong, Hank Shenanigan, The Rocki Whore Picture Show: A Hardcore Parody
 * Best Solo Sex Scene: Asa Akira, Superstar Showdown 2: Asa Akira vs. Kristina Rose
 * Best Tease Performance: Asa Akira, Asa Akira Is Insatiable 2
 * Best Three-Way Sex Scene, Boy/Boy/Girl: Asa Akira, Mick Blue, Toni Ribas, Asa Akira Is Insatiable 2
 * Female Foreign Performer of the Year: Aleska Diamond
 * Male Foreign Performer of the Year: Rocco Siffredi
 * MILF/Cougar Performer of the Year: India Summer
 * Most Outrageous Sex Scene: Brooklyn Lee, Juelz Ventura in "Suck My Sack With a Straw," American Cocksucking Sluts
 * Transsexual Performer of the Year: Bailey Jay

Sex Toys and Pleasure Products
 * Best Fetish Product: Crystal Minx Plug With Tail, Crystal Delights
 * Best Lingerie or Apparel Company: Baci Lingerie
 * Best Overall Sex Toy Line: Bedroom Kandi, OhMiBod
 * Best Packaging – Pleasure Products: Big Teaze Toys
 * Best Party, Game or Gag Product: Adult Trading Cards, Adult Trading Card Company
 * Best Sex Accessory: Eyelash Collection, Baci Lingerie
 * Best Sex Toy Company – Large: Fleshlight
 * Best Sex Toy Company – Small: Big Teaze Toys
 * Best Sex Toy for Couples: We-Vibe II, Standard Innovation
 * Best Sex Toy for Men: Blade, Fleshlight
 * Best Sex Toy for Women: Intensity, Jopen

Web and Technology Categories
 * Best Affiliate Program: FameDollars
 * Best Alternative Website: Clips4Sale.com, Clips 4 Sale
 * Best Dating Website: Fling.com
 * Best Live Chat Website: ImLive.com
 * Best Membership Website: Brazzers.com
 * Best Photography Website: EarlMiller.com
 * Best Retail Website: AdultDVDEmpire.com
 * Best Solo Girl Website: Ariel Rebel, ArielRebel.com
 * Best Studio Website: Evil Angel, EvilAngelVideo.com
 * Best Web Premiere: Pictures at an Exxxhibition, EarlMiller.com

Visionary Award
Vivid Entertainment co-founder Steven Hirsch was presented with a new honor, AVN's first Visionary Award, for bringing adult entertainment into the mainstream.

Hall of Fame
AVN Hall of Fame inductees for 2012 were:
 * Video Branch: Juli Ashton, Rob Black, David Aaron Clark, Dale DaBone, Erik Everhard, Alexander DeVoe, Jenna Haze, Alisha Klass, Toni Ribas, Silvia Saint, Mark Spiegler, Scott Taylor, Inari Vachs, Stacy Valentine and Nacho Vidal.
 * Pleasure Product Branch: Larry Garland of Eldorado Trading Co., Joel Tucker of Stockroom and Nick Orlandino of Pipedream Products.
 * Internet Founders Branch: Beth Mansfield of PersianKitty.com, Patrick of TheHun.net and Shap of Twistys.com.

Multiple nominations and awards
The following releases received multiple awards:
 * 9 awards: The Rocki Whore Picture Show: A Hardcore Parody
 * 7 awards: Asa Akira Is Insatiable 2
 * 4 awards: Portrait of a Call Girl
 * 3 awards: American Cocksucking Sluts, Elvis XXX: A Porn Parody and Mission Asspossible
 * 2 awards: Ass Worship 13, Beggin' for a Peggin', Cherry 2, Double Vision 3, Spider-Man XXX: A Porn Parody and This Ain't Ghostbusters XXX 3D

The following releases received the most nominations:
 * 18 nominations: The Rocki Whore Picture Show: A Hardcore Parody

The following individuals received multiple awards:
 * 6 awards: Asa Akira
 * 5 awards: Brooklyn Lee
 * 4 awards: Bobbi Starr, Riley Steele
 * 3 awards: Max Candy Toni Ribas
 * 2 awards: Axel Braun, Erik Everhard, Juelz Ventura, Manuel Ferrara, Mick Blue, Nacho Vidal, Xander Corvus

The following individuals received the most nominations:
 * 15 nominations: Mick Blue
 * 14 nominations: Toni Ribas
 * 13 nominations: Bobbi Starr, James Deen
 * 12 nominations: Asa Akira
 * 11 nominations: Andy San Dimas
 * 10 nominations: Gracie Glam, Kagney Linn Karter, Manuel Ferrara, Mark Wood, Ramón Nomar, Erik Everhard, Nacho Vidal
 * 9 nominations: Alexis Texas, Jesse Jane, Brooklyn Lee
 * 8 nominations: Kristina Rose, Lily LaBeau, John Strong, Kimberly Kane
 * 7 nominations: Capri Anderson, Allie Haze, Chanel Preston, Kayden Kross, Anthony Rosano, Tommy Gunn, Xander Corvus
 * 6 nominations: Dana DeArmond, Jenna Haze, Jessie Andrews, Evan Stone, Tim Von Swine

Presenters and performers
The following individuals were presenters or performers during the awards ceremony:

Trophy girls

 * Brett Rossi
 * Nicole Aniston replaced Sabrina Maree, who was originally announced but could not fulfill the obligation

Changes to awards categories
Beginning with the 29th AVN Awards, several new categories were introduced to reflect evolving market trends, including:
 * Best Studio Website
 * Best Solo Girl Website
 * Best All-Sex Release - Mixed Format
 * Best Director - Parody and Best Celebrity Sex Tape.

Controversies
As is often the case with awards shows, those who disagreed with this year's award winners took to forums and blogs to voice their objections, particularly around the selection of Dale DaBone as best actor over Tommy Pistol and the selection of India Summer as MILF/Cougar Performer of the Year.