Each year at the AVN Awards show, confusion invariably arises as to who should receive the trophy given to the evening's winners the people who helped create a winning project, or the company that released it.
The answer is pretty simple: it depends upon the award category.
For performance and technical awards, the general rule of thumb is that the award should be given to the performer(s) or production staff that created the award-winning performance or technical achievement, not the company that hired the performer(s) or production staff.
One technical award, the AVN Award for Best Special Effects, is given to the company, as individuals are not specified in the submission process; however, that may change in future years.
Awards for a particular title or series go to the company that released the title or series, not those who participated in its creation.
The following is a list of AVN Awards that are for individual(s):
Best New Starlet
Best Male Newcomer
Female Performer of the Year
Male Performer of the Year
Female Foreign Performer of the Year
Male Foreign Performer of the Year
Transsexual Performer of the Year
Best Actress – Film
Best Actress – Video
Best Actor – Film
Best Actor – Video
Best Supporting Actress – Film
Best Supporting Actress – Video
Best Supporting Actor – Film
Best Supporting Actor – Video
Best Non-Sex Performance
Best Tease Performance
Best Director – Film
Best Director – Video
Best Director – Non-Feature
Best Director – Foreign Release
Best All-Girl Sex Scene – Film
Best All-Girl Sex Scene – Video
Best Anal Sex Scene
Best Oral Sex Scene – Film
Best Oral Sex Scene – Video
Best Couples Sex Scene– Film
Best Couples Sex Scene – Video
Best Group Sex Scene-Film
Best Group Sex Scene – Video
Best Threeway Sex Scene – Video
Best Sex Scene in a Foreign-Shot Production
Best Solo Sex Scene
Most Outrageous Sex Scene
Best Screenplay – Film
Best Screenplay – Video
Best Art Direction – Film
Best Art Direction – Video
Best Cinematography
Best Videography
Best Editing – Film
Best Editing - Video
Best Music
Hall of Fame
Reuben Sturman Award
The following is a list of AVN Awards that go to companies:
Best Video Feature
Best Film
Best DVD
Best Gonzo Release
Best Gonzo Series
Best Sex Comedy
Best Vignette Release
Best Vignette Series
Best All-Sex Release
Best Continuing Video Series
Best High-Definition Production
Best Interactive DVD
Best Classic DVD
Best Foreign Feature
Best Foreign All-Sex Release
Best Foreign All-Sex Series
Best Anal-Themed Feature
Best Anal-Themed Series
Best All-Girl Feature
Best All-Girl Series
Best Ethnic-Themed Release – Asian
Best Ethnic-Themed Release – Black
Best Ethnic-Themed Release – Latin
Best Interracial Release
Best Ethnic-Themed Series
Best P.O.V. Release
Best Oral-Themed Feature
Best Oral-Themed Series
Best Amateur Release
Best Amateur Series
Best Pro-Am Release
Best Pro-Am Series
Best Alternative Release
Best DVD Extras
Best DVD Menus
Best Special Effects* (individuals not identified)
Best Specialty Release – Big Bust
Best Specialty Release – BDSM
Best Specialty Release – Spanking
Best Specialty Release – Foot Fetish
Best Specialty Release – Other Genre
Best Transsexual Release
Best DVD Packaging
Best VHS Packaging
Best Box Cover Concept
Best Overall Marketing Campaign – Company Image
Best Overall Marketing Campaign – Individual Project
Best Marketing Website
Best Retail Website
Best Renting Title of the Year
Best Selling Title of the Year
