PARIS—Digital Playground founder Joone and Evil Angel owner John Stagliano were two happy Americans Tuesday night as the big winners at the 2009 Hot d’Or, the 11th French awards ceremony and the first since 2001. (photo gallery)
A crowd of over 650 industry execs and talent enjoyed a very long evening of food, drink and a two-and-a-half hour awards show at Salle Wagram at the brand new, art deco Radisson Hotel near the famed Paris monument, Arc d’Triumph. The show was to honor Hot Video magazine’s 20th anniversary.
Digital Playground's Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge continued its domination of 2009 awards shows by nabbing five trophies, including Best American Movie, Screenplay, and acting awards for Jesse Jane, Evan Stone and Katsuni, the latter for Best French Actress. She also won for Best Blog. John Stagliano, however, took home the Best American Director Award for Fashionistas Safado Berlin.
Stagliano also represented Evil Angel in accepting a Hot d’Or D’Honneur, which is their version of a Special Achievement Award. While thanking his producers in attendance, including Manuel Ferrara, Raul Cristian and Christoph Clark, Stagliano made special mention of his general manager Christian Mann, who Stagliano credits with restructuring the business side of the Evil Empire.
Private’s big-budget Billionaire took home four awards, including Best European Movie, Director and Screenplay and its star Tarra White won Best Actress (she also won Best European Female Performer).
Jenna Haze continued her winning ways, nabbing the award for Best American Female Performer while one of Adam & Eve's contract stars, the lovely Kayden Kross, won for Best American Starlet. Kross was particularly dazzled and excited, saying "this is my first award," while visbily shaking. She returned to the stage with A&E’s Katy Zvolerin to accept a Hot d’Or D’Honneur for Adam & Eve and founder Phil Harvey.
The awards-heavy show was light on entertainment, save for two strong performances from French pop star Helmut Fritz, including an ending where the adult starlets were invited on stage, similar to the finale seen at the 2009 AVN Awards with Flo Rida. The interesting opening had two sexy dancers on scaffolding interacting with some muscular male acrobats while an artist created the Hot d’Or logo on canvas before the audience’s eyes.
The format of the show was similar to those during the Cannes Film Festival years, with veteran Brigitte Lahaie presenting in French and Yann de Graval translating for the English speaking crowd. All of the presenters paired one adult actress with one male perfomer, with the nominations in French and the winner announced in English.
Katsuni, a double award-winner who was Hot Video's official spokesmodel for the show, said, "This ceremony has been a great surprise to me. When I started [my career] it was the end of the Hot d'Or, and I always heard good things about it. It was just genius to organize it in the same time as the Cannes Festival in South of France! Today, the business is different and Hot Video decided to take the risk to create a new version of the Hot d'Or but this time in Paris, right after the convention in Berlin. And you know what? It has been a huge success!"
The French-Vietnamese star said the media interest was better than anyone had anticipated.
"All the main (mainstream and adult) medias were there on the red carpet. Lots of personalities of the adult industry...We definitely had fun during a very classy dinner with champagne. I've been very proud to show foreign companies and performers that we were able to do something great in France.
"And of course, when I went on stage to receive the Hot d'or of Best French Actress and Best Blog (ilovekatsuni.com) I just spent ones of the best minutes of my career. Finally I get the recognition in my own country! Vive les Hot d'Or. And can't wait for the AEE convention in Las Vegas!"
A double red carpet ceremony allowed television press to interview the stars before they stepped down to a second area for photos. French television giant Canal Plus will be broadcasting the show during their late-night block of adult programming.
To view a photo galllery of the event courtesy of Hot Video, click here.
The complete list of winners follows:
Best French Starlet
Angell Summers
Best European Starlet
Black Angelika
Best American Starlet
Kayden Kross
Best Adult Website
www.sexyavenue.com
Best French Actress
Katsuni in Pirates Stagnetti’s Revenge (Digital Playground)
Best European Actress
Tarra White in Billionaire (Private)
Best American Actress
Jesse Jane in Pirates Stagnetti’s Revenge (Digital Playground)
Best French Actor
Sebastian Barrio in Blanche, Alice, Sandy et les autres (Alkrys)
Best European Actor
Choky Ice in Sex and High Speed (Blue One)
Best American Actor
Evan Stone in Pirates Stagnetti’s Revenge (Digital Playground)
Best Actress’ Blog
Katsuni - http://www.ilovekatsuni.com
Best French Female Performer
Cecilia Vega
Best European Female Performer
Tarra White
Best American Female Performer
Jenna Haze
Best French Director
John B. Root for Montre-moi du rose (JBR Media)
Best European Director
Alessandro Del Mar for Billionaire (Private)
Best American Director
John Stagliano for Fashionistas Safado Berlin (Evil Angel/Marc Dorcel)
Best French Pro-Am Director
Enola and Al Arash for le Porntour (Swipp)
Best European Gonzo Director
Christophe Clark for Angel Perverse (Evil Angel)
Best American Gonzo Director
Manuel Ferrara for Slutty and Sluttier (VCV/Evil Angel)
Best French Male Performer
Manuel Ferrara
Best European Male Performer
Nacho Vidal
Best American Male Performer
Lexington Steele
Best French Screenplay
Blanche, Alice, Sandy et les autres by Christian Lavil (Alkrys)
Best European Screenplay
Billionaire by Alessandro Del Mar (Private)
Best American Screenplay
Pirates Stagnetti’s Revenge by Joone (Digital Playground)
Best French Movie
Ritual by Moire Candy (Marc Dorcel)
Best European Movie
Billionaire by Alessandro Del Mar (Private)
Best American Movie
Pirates II: Stagnetti’s Revenge by Joone (Digital Playground)
Honorary Awards
Second Sexe
Alpha France
Coralie Trinh Thi
Piotr Stanislas
Gérard Kikoïne
Evil Angel
Ovidie and Jack Tyler
Adam & Eve
Estelle Desanges
Click here for a photo gallery.
