Category Definitions - 2024 AVN Awards

Categories subject to change at AVN's discretion.

Video & Web

Best Actor – Featurette - Most outstanding acting performance in a male role including at least one sex scene within a short-form narrative work.

Best Actress – Featurette - Most outstanding acting performance in a female role including at least one sex scene within a short-form narrative work.

Best All-Girl Group Sex Scene - Most outstanding U.S.-shot sex scene between three or more female performers.

Best All-Girl Movie or Limited Series - Full-length work with a primary theme of and multiple scenes all depicting sex strictly involving female performers; must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.

Best All-Girl Series or Channel - Line of/multiple full productions comprised of sex scenes strictly involving female performers; must meet applicable scene quantity criteria.

Best Anal Movie or Limited Series - Full-length work with a primary theme of/multiple scenes all depicting male-on-female anal intercourse; must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.

Best Anal Series or Channel - Line of/multiple full productions comprised of scenes all depicting male-on-female anal intercourse; must meet applicable scene quantity criteria.

Best Anal Sex Scene - Most outstanding U.S.-shot sex scene primarily or strictly involving one female performer being anally penetrated by one male performer.

Best Anthology Movie or Limited Series - Full-length work comprised of multiple narrative segments, with or without any connecting device, whose theme is not specified in another category; must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.

Best Anthology Series or Channel - Line of/multiple full productions comprised of narrative segments whose theme is not specified in another series/channel category; must meet applicable scene quantity criteria.

Best Art Direction - Most outstanding achievement in the design of a production, including its sets and costumes.

Best BDSM Movie or Limited Series - Full-length bondage or S/M themed work with multiple scenes depicting humiliation, tickling, spanking, latex fetish and/or other domination or submission themed sexual acts; must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.

Best Blowbang Scene - Most outstanding sex scene strictly involving the performace of fellatio, typically by one female performer, with three or more recipients.

Best Boy/Girl Sex Scene - Most outstanding U.S.-shot sex scene between one female performer and one male performer primarily or strictly involving vaginal intercourse.

Best Cinematography - Most outstanding achievement in the photographic craftsmanship and overall look of a production.

Best Curve Appeal Movie or Limited Series - Full-length work with a primary theme of and multiple sex scenes all featuring female performers with curvy/voluptuous figures; must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.

Best Directing Portfolio – International - Most outstanding directorial body of work during the eligibility term produced outside the U.S.

Best Directing Portfolio – Narrative - Most outstanding directorial body of work during the eligibility term comprised of scripted/story-based material.

Best Directing Portfolio – Non-Narrative - Most outstanding directorial body of work during the eligibility term comprised of material with little to no story element.

Best Directing Portfolio – Specialty - Most outstanding directorial body of work during the eligibility term comprised primarily or exclusively of specialized or niche material.

Best Double-Penetration Sex Scene - Most outstanding U.S.-shot sex scene involving one female performer being simultaneously penetrated vaginally and/or anally by two male performers.

Best Editing - Most outstanding achievement in the craftsmanship with which a production is assembled.

Best Featurette - Short-form work with a full-arc narrative structure and at least one full and distinct sex scene; not to exceed a total running time of 60 minutes if the work contains any more than two sex scenes.

Best Female Mixed-Age Movie or Limited Series - Full-length work with a primary theme of/multiple scenes all depicting sex involving both older and younger female performers (with or without any male performers); must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.

Best Foursome/Orgy Scene - Most outstanding U.S.-shot sex scene involving any male/female grouping of four or more performers with at least two being female.

Best Gangbang Scene - Most outstanding sex scene typically involving one female performer and three or more male performers.

Best Girl/Girl Sex Scene - Most outstanding U.S.-shot sex scene between two female performers.

Best Gonzo/Cinemacore Movie or Limited Series - Full-length work with multiple sex scenes all employing a reality/POV style or little to no story element, and a theme (if any) not specified in another category; must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.

Best Gonzo/Cinemacore Series or Channel - Line of/multiple full productions comprised of reality/POV or non-narrative sex scenes, with a theme (if any) not specified in another series/channel category; must meet applicable scene quantity criteria.

Best Hair & Makeup - Most outstanding achievement in the use of makeup and hairstyling to enhance a production.

Best Ingénue Movie or Limited Series - Full-length work with a primary theme of and multiple sex scenes all featuring youthful, petite and/or unestablished female performers; must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.

Best Ingénue Series or Channel - Line of/multiple full productions comprised of sex scenes featuring youthful, petite and/or unestablished female performers; must meet applicable scene quantity criteria.

Best International All-Girl Sex Scene - Most outstanding sex scene shot outside the U.S. between two or more female performers.

Best International Anal Sex Scene - Most outstanding sex scene shot outside the U.S. primarily or strictly involving female anal intercourse and/or double-penetration including anal between any male/female combination of two-three performers.

Best International Boy/Girl Sex Scene - Most outstanding sex scene shot outside the U.S. between one female performer and one male performer primarily or strictly involving vaginal intercourse.

Best International Group Sex Scene - Most outstanding sex scene shot outside the U.S. involving any male/female combination of three or more performers, excluding anal-centric three-person scenes.

Best International Production - Movie or limited series produced outside the U.S. whose theme is typically not specified in another category (may be placed in another relevant category at AVN’s discretion); must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.  

Best Leading Actor - Most outstanding acting performance in a principal male role including at least one sex scene within a feature-length or longer narrative work.

Best Leading Actress - Most outstanding acting performance in a principal female role including at least one sex scene within a feature-length or longer narrative work.

Best Male Newcomer - New male performer who has made the most significant impact during the eligibility term (sex, acting and marketability all considered).

Best MILF Movie or Limited Series - Full-length work with a primary theme of and multiple sex scenes all featuring older/maternal-type female performers; must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.

Best MILF/Female Mixed-Age Series or Channel - Line of/multiple full productions comprised of sex scenes featuring older female performers or pairings/groupings of older and younger female performers; must meet applicable scene quantity criteria.

Best Multi-Partner Movie or Limited Series - Full-length work with a primary theme of and multiple scenes all depicting sex between male/female groupings of three or more performers; must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.

Best New International Starlet - New foreign-based female performer who has made the most significant impact during the eligibility term (sex, acting and marketability all considered).

Best New Production Banner - Most outstanding production company or brand/label to debut during the eligibility term.

Best New Starlet - New female performer who has made the most significant impact during the eligibility term (sex, acting and marketability all considered).

Best Niche Movie or Limited Series - Full-length work with multiple sex scenes all focusing on a fetish or special interest of any type not specified in another category (i.e. hirsutism, pregnancy, BBW, mature, etc.); must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.

Best Niche Series or Channel - Line of/multiple full productions comprised of fetish or special interest-themed sex scenes; must meet applicable scene quantity criteria.

Best Non-Sex Performance - Most outstanding acting performance not involving any sexual component beyond nudity.

Best Oral Series or Channel - Line of/multiple full productions comprised of scenes all primarily or strictly depicting fellatio; must meet applicable scene quantity criteria.

Best Oral Sex Scene - Most outstanding sex scene strictly involving the performance of fellatio by one or more female performer(s), typically with one to two recipients.

Best POV Sex Scene - Most outstanding sex scene shot entirely from the point of view of one of the participants; excludes virtual reality scenes.

Best Screenplay – Featurette - Most outstanding achievement in writing for a short-form scripted/narrative production.

Best Screenplay – Movie or Limited Series - Most outstanding achievement in writing for a feature-length or longer narrative production.

Best Solo/Tease Performance - Most outstanding sequence or scene depicting one or more female performer(s) in the act(s) of seduction and/or masturbation.

Best Soundtrack - Most outstanding achievement in the use of music to enhance a production.

Best Star Showcase - Full-length production featuring one performer in all of its sex scenes and typically incorporating said performer’s name into its title (excludes those centered on a male performer); must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.

Best Supporting Actor - Most outstanding acting performance in a secondary male role including at least one sex scene within a feature-length or longer narrative work.

Best Supporting Actress - Most outstanding acting performance in a secondary female role including at least one sex scene within a feature-length or longer narrative work.

Best Taboo Relations Movie or Limited Series - Full-length work with a primary theme of/multiple scenes all portraying fantasized sex between “forbidden” partners such as step-siblings or in-laws; must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.

Best Tag-Team Sex Scene - Most outstanding U.S-shot sex scene involving one female performer and two male performers who at no point interact with each other; excludes double-penetration scenes.

Best Thespian – Trans/X - Most outstanding acting performance in a trans or gender nonconforming role including at least one sex scene within a narrative work of any length.

Best Threesome Scene - Most outstanding U.S.-shot sex scene between two female performers and one male performer.

Best Trans Group Sex Scene - Most outstanding sex scene between three or more performers featuring at least one trans performer.

Best Trans Movie or Limited Series - Full-length work with a primary theme of and multiple sex scenes all featuring trans performers; must meet applicable run time/scene quantity criteria.

Best Trans Newcomer - New trans performer who has made the most significant impact during the eligibility term (sex, acting and marketability all considered).

Best Trans One-on-One Sex Scene - Most outstanding sex scene between one trans performer and one other performer of any gender.

Best Trans Series or Channel - Line of/multiple full productions comprised of sex scenes featuring trans performers; must meet applicable scene quantity criteria.   

Best Virtual Reality Sex Scene - Group - Most outstanding sex scene produced specifically for the virtual reality format and involving any male/female or all-female grouping of three or more performers.

Best Virtual Reality Sex Scene - One-on-One - Most outstanding sex scene produced specifically for the virtual reality format and involving either a male/female or female/female pairing of performers.

Best Virtual Reality Sex Scene - Trans - Most outstanding sex scene produced specifically for the virtual reality format and featuring at least one trans performer.

Clever Title of the Year - Most creative, clever and/or outrageous title given to an adult production released during the eligibility term; not based on quality of production.

Female Performer of the Year - Female performer with the most outstanding body of work during the eligibility term (sex, acting and marketability all considered).

Girl/Girl Specialty Performer of the Year - Female performer with the most outstanding body of work during the eligibility term distinguished by predominantly or exclusively performing with other female talent in sex scenes (ouside of solo performances).

Grand Reel - Full-narrative movie or limited series that demonstrates extraordinary overall achievement in every facet of adult motion picture production, including eroticism, storytelling, acting, cinematography, art direction, scoring, editing, etc.

International Female Performer of the Year - Female performer with the most outstanding body of work during the eligibility term predominantly or entirely produced outside the U.S. (sex, acting and marketability all considered).

International Male Performer of the Year – Male performer with the most outstanding body of work during the eligibility term predominantly or entirely produced outside the U.S. (sex, acting and marketability all considered).

Mainstream Venture of the Year - Awarded to one or more adult performer(s) or personality(ies) for a specific mainstream movie, show or other project in which they were involved that occurred/was commercially released during the eligibility term.

Male Performer of the Year - Male performer with the most outstanding body of work during the eligibility term (sex, acting and marketability all considered).

Mark Stone Award for Outstanding Comedy - Highest achievement of the year in comedic craftsmanship within an adult production.

MILF Performer of the Year - Female performer with the most outstanding body of work during the eligibility term in MILF/older woman themed material.

Most Outrageous Sex Scene - Sex scene with the most creatively unique and impactful element(s) of the year beyond normal eroticism; typically depicts something shocking or outlandish.

Niche Specialty Performer of the Year - Performer with the most outstanding body of work during the eligibility term primarily or exclusively in fetish or special interest material (i.e. BDSM, BBW, mature, wrestling, etc.).