Digital Playground won two out of the three categories reserved for Americans at the Eighth Annual International Venus Fair awards show held in Berlin tonight.
Digital Playground’s exclusive Jesse Jane won in the Best Actress – USA category, and the company’s contract director Robby D was named Best Director – USA.
Elegant Angel’s film Compulsion, directed by Axel Braun, won in the Best Movie – USA, category.
Samantha Lewis, president of Digital Playground, was ecstatic that her company had achieved such recognition at one of Europe’s largest Adult events. “I’m excited. This is just fantastic,” Lewis told AVN.com, just moments after she received a text-message from her partner Joone announcing the awards.
"We were a worried about the Best Actress award because Jesse was facing some tough competition," Lewis admitted, noting that Jenna Jameson, Carmen Luvana, and Jewel De'Nyle were also nominated for the award that Jesse Jane received.
Robby D shoots one feature a month for Digital Playground, but is perhaps best known for his work on Digital Playground's critically acclaimed episodic Adult comedy series Jack’s Playground.
“Jack’s Playground is kicking butt over there [Europe]. It was a little bit different than what we normally do, but its done very well,” Lewis said.
Venus awards are unique in the way that directors, performers, and titles from the same country compete for honors, while also remaining eligible for the European category and the International category.
For instance, a French performer can be nominated in the Best New Starlet – France category for a role she performed in a movie that has been nominated in both the Best Movie – Germany category and in the Best Movie – Europe category.
That’s exactly the case for Private’s Millionaire, a mega-budget feature that is nominated for 16 awards – in various categories from Germany, France, Italy, Hungary and Europe. The feature is nominated in both Best Movie – Germany and Best Movie – Europe categories.
