LOS ANGELES, CA – (NOVEMBER 29, 2016) – Canoga Park-based production powerhouse Wicked Pictures and the lines it distributes have received over one hundred 2017 XBIZ Awards nominations, with nearly half going to the company’s quartet of epic blockbusters – Brad Armstrong’s dynamic features DNA and The Preacher’s Daughter, and Axel Braun’s Wicked Comix hits Suicide Squad XXX: An Axel Braun Parody and Supergirl XXX: An Axel Braun Parody. These acclaimed productions showcase the gifts of their creators as well as the beauty, talent and eroticism of iconic Wicked Girls Stormy Daniels, jessica drake and Asa Akira, all of whom are nominated for Best Sex Scene and/or Best Actress awards. (A full list of the nominations appears below.)

Everything veteran contract director, writer and performer Brad Armstrong released during the year – Sexbots, DNA, The J.O.B. and The Preacher’s Daughter received Feature Movie of the Year and Best Director-Feature Release nominations. DNA is leading the way for Wicked’s original productions, with over ten major noms in total. The sci-fi saga’s fine performances, taut direction and outstanding production values are recognized with such important noms as Best Actress (drake), Best Actor (Armstrong), Best Supporting Actress (Akira), Best Supporting Actor (Small Hands), Best Non-Sex Performance (India Summer), Best Scene-Feature Release (Armstrong, Cristi Ann and Courtney Taylor, & Ryan Driller, jessica drake, Scarlet Red, Abella Danger and Eric Masterson), Best Editing, Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography.

Among Mr. Armstrong’s other 2016 triumphs, The Preacher’s Daughter has received nominations for Best Actress (Mia Malkova), Best Actor (Armstrong), Best Supporting Actress (Alexis Fawx) Best Supporting Actor (Xander Corvus), Best Sex-Feature Release (Malkova and Blair Williams, & Jessa Rhodes and Corvus), Screenplay of the Year, Best Editing and Best Music. In addition to Feature Movie of the Year and Best Director-Feature Release nominations, Sexbots and The J.O.B. are recognized in several other top categories, including Best Actress for both drake and Akira (The J.O.B.) and Best Sex Scene-Feature Release for Stormy Daniels, drake and Akira (Sexbots). Sexbots also earned Armstrong a Best Actor nomination.

Parody master Axel Braun’s nominations speak to the excellence of his work. His Wicked Comix smash hit Suicide Squad XXX: An Axel Braun Parody is competing in over fifteen major categories, including Best Actress (Kleio Valentien), Best Actor (Tommy Pistol, Seth Gamble, Lexington Steele), Best Supporting Actress (Anna Bell Peaks), Best Non-Sex Performance (Nyomi Banxxx), Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, Best Special Effects, Screenplay of the Year, Director of the Year – Parody, Best Editing, Best Music, Parody Release of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, and Best Scene – Parody (Axel Braun Productions contract star Riley Steele and Seth Gamble).

The director’s other Wicked Comix release, Supergirl XXX: An Axel Braun Parody, is represented by several top nominations, including Best Actress (Carter Cruise), Best Actor (Ryan Driller), Parody Release of the Year, and Director of the Year – Parody. Braun’s work in other genres is bringing him just as much recognition, with both Asa Goes To Hell and Cruise Control in competition for Performer Showcase of the Year. Fittingly, Braun is also nominated for Director of the Year – Body of Work.

Writer-director-producer-host jessica drake’s nominations celebrating her efforts as a sex educator and her instructional series jessica drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex include recognition in both the Crossover Star of the Year and Sexpert of the Year categories. jessica drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex: Foreplay and jessica drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex: Kama Sutra are both represented in the Specialty Release of the Year category.

In addition to earning sex scene recognition for her fine work in Sexbots, veteran writer and filmmaker Stormy Daniels is recognized in both the Feature Movie of the Year category and Best Director-Feature Release categories thanks to the superlative Trouble X 2, which also earned Ryan Driller mention in the Best Actor category, and a Best Sex Scene – Feature Release nom for Driller and Abigail Mac. Ms. Daniels’ Wicked Passions releases New Beginnings and Indiscretions both earned Couples-Themed Release of the Year nominations. Asa Akira’s excellent turn in Indiscretions is recognized with a Best Actress-Couples Themed Release nod. New Beginnings snared Stormy a second Best Director-Feature Release nom as well as a Best Actress-Couples Themed release nomination for Cassidy Klein, a Best Supporting Actor nom for Ryan Driller and a Best Sex Scene-Couples Themed Release nod for Driller and Jodi Taylor. Brad Armstrong is recognized in the Best Actor-Couples Themed Release category for both Indiscretions and New Beginnings.

Director David Lord scored a major hit with Casual Encounters, earning nominations for Best Actress-Couples Themed Release (jessica drake), Best Actor-Couples Themed Release (Derrick Pierce), Couples-Themed Release of the Year, Best Sex Scene – Couples-Themed Release (jessica drake and Derrick Pierce), and Director of the Year – Feature Release. Jonathan Morgan’s Bijou received Best Sex Scene – Feature Release (Keira Nicole and Michael Vegas).

Other lines distributed by the company, including Marc Dorcel and JoyBear Pictures, are all represented by major nominations. And In recognition of the Wicked brand’s continuing success in emerging markets, Wicked Sensual Care, the acclaimed creator of luxurious, cruelty-free and PETA-certified lubricants and enhancers, has been recognized with a Sex Lubricant Company of the Year nomination, as well as product nominations for Awaken (Enhancement Product of the Year) and Wicked Hybrid (Sex Lubricant of the Year).

Given its outstanding track record in production, performance, eroticism and innovation, it comes as no surprise that XBIZ is honoring Wicked Pictures with their highest accolade – the coveted Studio of the Year nomination. For his part, Wicked President and Owner Steve Orenstein couldn’t be more pleased to see his dynamic directors, contract stars and executives earning such recognition. “As the business continues to change I’m prouder than ever that the work of our contract directors and stars continues to stand out from the pack and be recognized. Of course all of our great work is not just from our contract players and I thank all the independent directors, actors and actresses for their hard work as well.”

Wicked Pictures congratulates its talented performers, filmmakers, distribution partners and staff for their 2017 XBIZ nominations. From ambitious high-tech epics to the most intimate of love stories, this forward-thinking studio continues to prove that it is built to last. For a complete list of nominations, see below.

To learn more about Wicked Pictures, please visit www.wicked.com.

About Wicked Pictures
Established in Canoga Park, California on March 1st, 1993, Wicked Pictures was formed with a firm commitment to producing quality adult productions created specifically for women and couples, a decision the company has stayed true to for over twenty three years, even when this mission has seemed at odds with prevailing economic trends. And after a health scare in 1998 led many companies to begin instituting policies of mandatory condom usage, Wicked is the only producer still safeguarding performers’ health by continuing to adhere to this policy over seventeen years later. Wicked continues to diversify and expand its commitment to couples’ intimacy through such initiatives as the romance-driven Wicked Passions label, the AVN / XBIZaward-winning franchises Wicked Comix and Wicked Fairy Tales, the award-winning educational series jessica drake’s Guide to Wicked Sex, and the Wicked Sensual Care line of luxurious lubricants and enhancers. These forward-thinking ventures allow Wicked to explore new ground while staying true to its core vision of producing quality adult entertainment and strengthening its appeal to women and couples.