LOS ANGELES, CA – (March 16, 2017) – The X-Rated Critics Organization (XRCO) has revealed its 2017 nominees, and production powerhouse Wicked Pictures is pleased to announce its elite creative team has received thirteen major awards nominations. This impressive tally finds Brad Armstrong, Axel Braun, Stormy Daniels, jessica drake and Asa Akira earning numerous accolades in the areas of performance, direction, eroticism and mainstream appeal.

Veteran writer, director, actor and blockbuster creator Brad Armstrong’s explosive cyberpunk thriller DNA received recognition in the Best Release and Best Actress (jessica drake) categories, while his smash hit Editor’s Choice The Preacher’s Daughter – one of the year’s undisputed breakout hits – 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.

Contract superstar and 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 wildly successful 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, please visit www.wicked.com and www.xrco.com.

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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 / XBIZ award-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.