Hot d'Or

Overview

The awards have been described as the porn equivalent of the Palme d'Or or the Academy Awards. The analogous American honor is the AVN Award. The inaugural event was held over two weeks in May in a hotel complex, at exactly the same time as the Cannes Film Festival. Venues included the Royal Casino Hotel, situated five miles from the Croisette. In 1997, the event was held at the Lido in Paris.

The Hot d'Or was noted for the lavish parties that accompanied it, particularly those held by Private Media Group on board a yacht in Cannes marina. The event attracted many performers, paparazzi, directors, and producers and distributors who would make deals buying and selling films. The event would often court publicity by having porn stars pose naked on the public beach. Consequently, it attracted attention from international media who were in town for the mainstream festival.

The highest award given was the Hot d'Or d'honneur, which was awarded to figures including Estelle Desanges, Marc Dorcel, Julia Channel, John Stagliano, Internet Entertainment Group and Ona Zee.

20th anniversary*

After an eight-year absence, the awards returned to Paris on October 20, 2009 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Hot Vidéo magazine. They were held at Salle Wagram at the art deco Radisson Hotel, and French pop star Helmut Fritz performed at the show. French television giant Canal Plus had the rights to broadcast the show during their late-night block of adult programming.

Reception and review

Hot d'Ors presence was not particularly welcomed by the Cannes Film Festival or Cannes city officials. In 1998 (when the awards were again held in Cannes), Steve Vlottes of Wicked Pictures said the awards were: "the most important show that we attend".

Return of award program

Upon the announcement of Vardon's wife, former adult film star Tabatha Cash, taking over as the editor in chief of Hot Video magazine, there was speculation about the return of the award program and show.

Award history

1st Annual Hot d'Or (1992)

Best Foreign Actress: Zara Whites - Rêves de cuir

Best French Actress: Carole Tennessee

Best American Actress: Ashlyn Gere

Best European Actor: Christoph Clark - Le clown by Nils Molitor

Best Foreign Director: John Leslie

Best Foreign Film: La Chatte 2

2nd Annual Hot d'Or (1993)

Best European Actress: Angelica Bella (Hungary)

Best European Starlet: Tabatha Cash

Best European Director: Michel Ricaud

Best European Film: Arabica

Best Original Screenplay: L'Affaire Savannah by Vidéo Marc Dorcel

3rd Annual Hot d'Or (1994)

Best European Actress: Tabatha Cash (France)

Best European Starlet: Valy Verdi

Best European Actor: Christophe Clark - Délices et Séduction by Michel Ricaud

Best European Director: Michel Ricaud

Hot d'Or d'honneur: Zara Whites

Best European Film: Délit de Séduction by Vidéo Marc Dorcel

Best Original Screenplay: Photographic Modelling by Xavier Bonastre

4th Annual Hot d'Or (1995)

Best European Actress: Draghixa (France) - Le Parfum de Mathilde

Best European Starlet: Barbara Doll

Best French Actress: Coralie

Best American Actress: Ashlyn Gere

Best American Starlet: Chasey Lain

Best European Actor: Christophe Clark - Citizen Shane by Michel Ricaud with Anita Rinaldi

Best New Director: Rocco Siffredi

Best European Director: Marc Dorcel

Best European Film: Citizen Shane by Vidéo Marc Dorcel

Best Original Screenplay: Le Parfum de Mathilde by Vidéo Marc Dorcel

Best Amateur Series: L'École de Laetitia

5th Annual Hot d'Or (1996)

Best European Actress: Coralie

Best European Supporting Actress: Élodie Chérie

Best European Starlet: Laure Sinclair

Best American Actress: Jenna Jameson

Best American Starlet: Jenna Jameson

Best European Actor: Rocco Siffredi

Best American Actor: Marc Davis

Best New Actor: David Perry

Best European Director: Marc Dorcel (The Princess and The Whore)

Best American Director: Michael Ninn (Latex)

Best New Director: Christoph Clark (Young Widows Lustful)

Hot d'Or d'honneur: Richard Allan

Best European Film: La Princesse et La Pute (The Princess and The Whore - Marc Dorcel)

Best American Film: Latex (Michael Ninn)

Best First French Production: Blue Mask

Best Lesbian Film: Les Chiennes (The Bitches)

Best Original Screenplay: Gigolo

Best Cover: Le Désir Dans La Peau (Desire In The Skin)

Best Remake or Adaptation: La Princesse et La Pute (The Princess and The Whore - Marc Dorcel)

Best American Pro-am Series - Buttman

Best French Pro-Am Series - School of Laetitia

Best Gold AVN American Film - Buttman's European Vacation 3

Hot Platinum K7 - Latex

6th Annual Hot d'Or (1997)

Best European Actress: Laure Sainclair

Best European Supporting Actress: Olivia Del Rio (La Ruée vers Laure)

Best European Starlet: Nikki Anderson (Sweet Lady)

Best American Actress: Jenna Jameson

Best American Starlet: Kobe Tai

Best European Actor: Rocco Siffredi

Best Supporting European Actor: Richard Langin

Best American Actor: Vince Vouyer

Best New Actor: Philippe Dean

Best European Director: Pierre Woodman (The Pyramid)

Best American Director: Michael Ninn (Body Shock)

Best New American Director: Kris Kramski (Sexhibition)

Best European Film: The Pyramid (Private - Pierre Woodman)

Best American Film: Conquest

Best French Film - Middle Budget: The Magnifix

Best Original Screenplay: The Pyramid

Best Cover: The Pyramid

Best Pro-Am French Series: Les Infirmières de Laetitia (The Laetitia Nurses)

Best Pro-Am American Series: Venom

Best Screenplay - Adaptation or Remake: Cape Town

Platinum Movie 1997: The Fugitive (Private - Pierre Woodman)

AVN d'Or for Best American Film: Ben Dover's Fresh Cheeks

7th Annual Hot d'Or (1998)

Best European Actress: Laure Sainclair (Les Nuits de la Presidente - Video Marc Dorcel)

Best European Supporting Actress: Coralie

Best European Starlet: Jade

Best American Actress: Jenna Jameson (Sexe de Feu, Coeur de Glace - Wicked Pictures)

Best American Starlet: Stacy Valentine

Best European Actor: Roberto Malone

Best European Supporting Actor: Andrew Youngman

Best American Actor: Mark Davis (Decadence - Michael Ninn)

Best New Actor: Ramon

Best European Director: Pierre Woodman

Best New European Director: Anita Rinaldi

Best American Director: Kris Kramski

Best New American Director: Philip Mond (Zazel)

Best European Film: Tatiana (Private)

Best American Film: Lisa (Sin City)

Best French Film: Bad Boy

Best Original Screenplay: Tatiana

Best Remake or Adaptation: La Belle et la Bête

Best Box Cover: Paris Chic (Andrew Blake)

Best American Pro-Am Series: World Sex Tour (Anabolic)

Best French Pro-Am Series: L’école de Laetitia

Hot d'Or d'honneurs: Marc Dorcel, Julia Channel, John Stagliano, and Internet Entertainment Group (for the release of The Pamela Anderson Home Video or Pam & Tommy Lee - Hardcore & Uncensored)

8th Annual Hot d'Or (1999)

Best American Actress: Jill Kelly (Exile)

Best European Actress: Nikki Anderson (L'Enjeu Du Desir and Rocco Never Dies)

Best European Supporting Actress: Dolly Golden

Best American Starlet: Jewel De'Nyle

Best European Starlet: Kate More

Best American Actor: Mark Davis

Best European Actor: David Perry (L'Enjeu Du Desir)

Best European Supporting Actor: Marc Barrow (Croupe Du Monde)

Best New Actor: Ian Scott

Best European Movie: L'Enjeu Du Desir

Best American Movie: Flashpoint

Best All-Sex Film: Planet Sexxx 2

Best French Pro-Am Series: Hongrie Interdite

Best American Pro-Am series: The Voyeur

Best American Director: Michael Ninn

Best European Director: Alain Payet (Le Labyrinthe)

Best New European Director: Fred Coppula (Niqueurs Nes)

Best New American Director: Gary Sage (Carnal Obsessions)

Best Screenplay: Alain Payet

Best Box Cover: L'Enjeu Du Desir

9th Annual Hot d'Or (2000)

Best Boxcover: L'Esclave des sens - VMD

Best Screenplay: L'Emmerdeuse - Fred Coppula, Blue One

Best Remake or Adaptation: Les Tontons Tringleurs (Alain Payet - Blue One)

Best American Starlet: Tera Patrick

Best European Starlet: Meridian

Best French Starlet: Estelle Desanges

Best American Actress: Stacy Valentine

Best European Actress: Laura Angel

Best French Actress: Dolly Golden

Best European Supporting Actor: Marc Barrow, Hotdorix Colmax

Best European Supporting Actress: Sylvia Saint (Le Contrat des Anges - Video Marc Dorcel)

Best American Pro-Am Series: The Voyeur - VMD

Best European Pro-Am Series: Euro Anal - Maeva

Best French Amateur Series: Le Fantasmotron - Luxor

Best New Actor: Titof

Best American Actor: Randy Spears, DMJ 6 Blue One

Best European Actor: Ian Scott - L'Emmerdeuse Dolly Golden, Les Tontons Tringleurs Blue One

Hot d'Or d'honneur: Ona Zee

Best European New Director: Gabriel Zéro - La Verité si tu bandes!, Lucy

Best American Director: Michael Ninn, Ritual Blue One

Best European Director: Fred Coppula - L'Emmerdeuse, Blue One

AVN d'Or - Best European Release in the US: Then Rocco Meats Kelly 2 - Rocco Siffredi & Evil Angel

Best DVD: La Ruée Vers Laure - VMD

Platinum Movie (Editors' Choice): Machos - Blue One

Best French Movie: Middle Budget La Soirée des Connes Patrice Cabanel, JTC

Best American Movie: Ritual - Michael Ninn, Blue One

Best European Movie: L'Emmerdeuse - Fred Coppula, Blue One

10th Annual Hot d'Or (2001)

Award winners:

Best Actress - "vote des professionnels": Océane

Best Actor - "vote des professionnels": Sebastian Barrio

Best European Actress: Daniella Rush (Orgie en noir)

Best European Supporting Actress: Estelle Desanges (Project X)

Best European Starlet: Judith Fox

Best French Actress: Océane (Project X)

Best French Starlet: Clara Morgane

Best American Actress: Tera Patrick (Crossroads)

Best American Starlet: Briana Banks

Best European Supporting Actor: Marc Barrow (Profession: Gros Cul)

Best European Actor: Ian Scott (Max)

Best American Actor: Mark Davis (Justine's Daughter: Nothing to Hide 3)

Best Director: Pierre Woodman (Madness)

Best Director - "vote des professionnels": Fred Coppula (Max)

Best Film: Stavros (Mario Salieri - Colmax)

Best Film - "vote des professionnels": Max (Fred Coppula - Blue One)

Best French Film - Middle Budget: Stavros (Colmax)

Best Original Screenplay: Orgie en noir (Ovidie - VMD)

Best Cover: Madness (Private)

Best Videocassette: Soirée de connes (Patrice Cabanel)

Hot d'Or d'honneur:

Sharon Mitchell

Paul Fishbein

Ovidie

Thierry Ardisson

Hot d'Or Hall of Fame: Larry Flynt

11th Hot d'Or (2009) for the 20th Anniversary of Hot Video magazine

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 (Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge - Digital Playground)

Best European Actress: Tarra White (Billionaire - Private)

Best American Actress: Jesse Jane (Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge - Digital Playground)

Best French Actor: Sebastian Barrio (Blanche, Alice, Sandy et les autres - Alkrys)

Best European Actor: Choky Ice (Sex and High Speed - Blue One)

Best American Actor: Evan Stone (Pirates II: Stagnetti's Revenge - Digital Playground)

Best Actress’ Blog: Katsuni - 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 (Montre-moi du rose - JBR Media)

Best European Director: Alessandro Del Mar (Billionaire - Private)

Best American Director: John Stagliano (Fashionistas Safado Berlin - Evil Angel/Marc Dorcel)

Best French Pro-Am Director: Enola Suger and Al Arash (le Porntour - Swipp)

Best European Gonzo Director: Christoph Clark (Angel Perverse - Evil Angel)

Best American Gonzo Director: Manuel Ferrara (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 II: Stagnetti's Revenge by Joone (Digital Playground)

Best French Movie: Ritual by Moire Candy/ Max 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

Piotr Stanislas

Gérard Kikoïne

Evil Angel

Ovidie and Jack Tyler

Adam & Eve

Estelle Desanges