Los Angeles, CA – (June 28, 2016) – From center stage to the winner’s circle, Wicked Pictures took the 2016 XRCO (X-Rated Critics Organization) Awards Show by storm, earning several of the night’s most coveted awards and honors. Director Stormy Daniels’ breakout Wicked / Adam & Eve blockbuster Wanted earned the organization’s biggest feature movie honor, the coveted Best Epic award, while filmmakers Axel Braun and Brad Armstrong swept the Best Parody categories. Hosted by Wicked Girls jessica drake and Asa Akira, the industry-only soiree was held June 22nd at OHM Nightclub in Hollywood.

Now in its 32nd year, the festive gala began on a poignant note with the induction of Wicked Pictures President and Owner Steve Orenstein into the XRCO Hall of Fame. As Mr. Orenstein was unable to attend, jessica and Asa accepted the award on his behalf, speaking movingly of his dedication and commitment to excellence and innovation.

Staying true to the XRCO’s mission statement of “giving writers and editors from the adult entertainment industry a voice in selecting the yearly best in X-rated movies,” the evening saw Wicked sweeping several important categories. Hitmaker Axel Braun earned Best Parody – Comedy for his Wicked Fairy Tales release Peter Pan XXX: An Axel Braun Parody, while his stylish Wicked Comix hit Batman v Superman XXX: An Axel Braun Parody snared the Best Parody – Comic trophy. Braun himself took home the Best Director – Parody award, an honor the organization has bestowed upon him a record five consecutive times.

Blockbuster creator Brad Armstrong had a similarly explosive evening, taking home the Best Parody – Drama award for his crossover hit Magic Mike XXXL: A Hardcore Parody. His stylish Editor’s Choice parody emerged as one of the evening’s true successes, earning Derrick Pierce a well-deserved Best Actor trophy for his superlative work in the title role as well. In addition to co-hosting the awards show, Magic Mike XXXL co-star and sexual wellness authority jessica drake’s role as a dynamic industry spokesperson and sex education advocate was rewarded with the XRCO’s coveted Mainstream Adult Media Favorite award.

In another poignant highlight of the evening, the late Amber Rayne, who’d come out of retirement to appear in Wanted, earned the organization’s Unsung Siren award. Her close friends and Wanted co-stars Jack Vegas and Dick Chibbles accepted the trophy on her behalf.

For his part, Steve Orenstein couldn’t have been more pleased with the evening’s results. “I’m very thankful to the XRCO members for their recognition of our directors and our movies. Having our three exclusive directors all represented while winning all three Parody categories and the Epic category is fantastic. I’m also very thankful for jessica’s Mainstream Adult Media Favorite award for her sex education work. We plan to continue making quality adult entertainment and hope that it continues to be recognized.”

Wicked Pictures congratulates all of 2016’s XRCO award winners. For more information about Wicked Pictures, please visit www.wicked.com and www.wickedb2b.com. To learn more about the X-Rated Critics Organization, please visit www.xrco.com.