LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The X-Rated Critics Organization (XRCO) has announced its 2017 nominees, and Wicked Pictures has a lot to celebrate. The top-drawer studio's creative team has received 13 major awards nominations. Brad Armstrong, Axel Braun, Stormy Daniels, Jessica Drake and Asa Akira were the recipients of numerous accolades in the areas of performance, direction and mainstream appeal.
Veteran writer, director, actor and blockbuster creator Brad Armstrong’s cyberpunk thriller DNA received recognition in the Best Release and Best Actress (jessica drake) categories, while his The Preacher’s Daughter—which won Best Drama at the 2017 AVN Awards—also received a Best Feature mention. Fittingly, the uniformly high-quality, distinctive visual design and searing eroticism of Armstrong’s work for the year was distinguished with a Best Director (Features) nomination.
Parody king Axel Braun’s undisputed mastery of his chosen genre was recognized with a Best Director (Parody) nomination, while Parody of the Year honors went to the Wicked Comix hits Suicide Squad XXX: An Axel Braun Parody and Supergirl XXX: An Axel Braun Parody. Turning to the performance categories, Suicide Squad XXX’s Kleio Valentien and Tommy Pistol’s excellent work earned them Best Actress and Best Actor nominations, respectively.
Iconic film star, writer, and filmmaker Stormy Daniels’ charming couples picture Weekend to Remember emerged as her biggest hit of the year, earning the multi-talented industry veteran Best Feature and Best Director (Feature) honors.
Sexual wellness advocate jessica drake earned the organization’s coveted Mainstream Adult Media Favorite nomination in honor of her tireless work as a sex educator and the continuing success of her award-winning instructional series jessica drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex. Crossover star, author, blogger and maverick entrepreneur Asa Akira received the Mainstream Adult Media Favorite nomination in recognition of a whirlwind year that’s seen her publish a second book, Dirty Thirty, launch her own line of designer candles, and join the men’s lifestyle site Barstool Sports.
Wicked Pictures is pleased to congratulate all 2017 XRCO nominees. The winners will be announced April 27, 2017, at an industry-only gala to be held at the OHM Club in Hollywood.
For more information, visit Wicked.com and XRCO.com.
