I don't mind if a performer is both hosting and nominated at an awards show, but it certainly makes things awkward if they don't win their category. I think having a non-industry co-host (Alex Mapa) alongside Cade Maddox is a good idea. I've never actually watched the GayVN Awards before, but I'm assuming they don't have presenters in addition to hosts, so they will likely have Alex Mapa handle the two categories Cade is nominated in.
For ease of others joining the conversation, here are the nominees.
Best Actor
- Tyler Berg, Dis-Connecting, Gay Angel Films/TLAVideo
- Beau Butler, Guilty As Sin, Raging Stallion
- Cole Connor, The Swords: Final Cut, NakedSword Originals
- Andre Donovan, The Swords: First Mission, NakedSword Originals
- Derek Kage, Overdrive, Raging Stallion
- Tristan Hunter, Jake Jaxson’s Happy Endings, CockyBoys
- Jayden Marcos, Changes, Next Door Films/ASGMax.com
- Jordi Massive, Full Holes, FamlyDick.com/SayUncle.com
- Enrique Mudu, The Bartender: The Final Cut, LatinLeche.com/SayUncle.com
- Sir Peter, Royally Fucked, Men.com
- Dan Saxon, Cumming Home for Christmas, Falcon Studios
- Adam Snow, The Professor, Gaycest.com/CarnalPlus.com
- Roman Todd, The Swords, NakedSword Originals
- Drew Valentino, Strong Suit, MenAtPlay/Raging Stallion
- Carter Woods, For You, I Will, Disruptive Films/ASGMax.com
Best Actor – Featurette
- Trevor Brooks, “Risky Business,” MenAtPlay.com
- Nico Coopa, “Enlisted,” Next Door Films/ASGMax.com
- Braxton Cruz, “Third Wheel,” BroNetwork.com
- Sean Ford, “The Wayfaring Stranger,” CockyBoys.com
- Trevor Harris, “Welcome to the Neighborhood,” Disruptive Films/ASGMax.com
- Jordan Jameson, “The Royal Imposter,” NoirMale.com
- Derek Kage, “Divergence” (Parts 1 & 2), Next Door Films & Disruptive Films/ASGMax.com
- Michael Klashman, “Dixson,” Himeros.tv
- Killian Knox, Hot Daddies 4, Icon Male
- Jayden Marcos, “Marriage Material,” DisruptiveFilms.com/ASGMax.com
- Blain O'Connor, “Military Insubordination,” Forbidden Seductions/AdultTime.com
- Colton Reece, “Accidental Pornstar,” Men.com
- Reese Rideout, “Top Dad,” ManRoyale.com/GayRoom.com
- Drew Sebastian, “Lust Triangles: Coach's Coming Out,” ModernDaySins.com/AdultTime.com
- Manuel Skye, “College Hunk Movers,” Masqulin.com/BroNetwork
Best All-Sex Movie
- Boys Will Be Boys, CockyBoys.com/RandyBlue.com
- Deep Blue: A Greek Adventure, BelAmi
- Blame it on Rio, NakedSword X Rhyheim
- Cocky Coach, Men.com
- The Gaycation Mexico, PeterFever.com
- International Scout Boys, ScoutBoys.com/Staxus.com/CarnalPlus.com
- Kinky Scenarios, Icon Male
- Make It Last, Hot House
- Men of Action, Kristen Bjorn/Sarava Productions
- Ripped 'n Raw in Rip City, CorbinFisher.com
- Rough Enough?, CockyBoys
- Seed City, RawFuckClub/Dark Alley Media
- Service Station, Next Door Studios
- Sexual Favors 3, Noir Male
- Three Can Play, Helix Studios
Best Bi Sex Scene
- Becumming Bisexual 3, Devil’s Film; Adira Allure, Derek Defendi & Steve Rickz
- Bi Couple Fantasies, WhyNotBi; Cristiano, Aften Opal & Drake Von
- Bi More Oil 2, Biphoria; Ariel Darling, Tony Genius & Riley Mitchel
- “Breaking in Dillon,” BiCollegeFucks.com; Dane, Dillon & Nikki
- “Call Center Cocks,” WhyNotBi.com; Finn Harding, Roman Todd & Izzy Wilde
- Go Bi or Go Home, Biphoria; Ari Alectra, Dillon Diaz & Hatler Gurius
- “Greedy Creampies: So What If You're Married?,” ModernDaySins.com/ AdultTime.com; Lydia Black, Mason Lear & Micah Martinez
- “Horny Nurse Faceoff,” WhyNotBi.com; Trevor Brooks, Malik Delgaty & Mimi Malibu
- “Liam & Eva Share Chris,” BiCollegeFucks.com; Chris, Eva & Liam
- “Mad Fuckers: Earning Their Divorces,” ModernDaySins.com / AdultTime.com; Casey Calvert, Dante Colle, Dominic Pacifico & Victoria Voxxx
Best Directing – Feature
- Jeremy Babcock, Changes, Next Door Films/ASGMax.com
- Steve Cruz & Ben Rush, Overdrive, Raging Stallion
- Tony Dimarco & Ben Rush, Guilty as Sin, Raging Stallion
- Foxtrot & Brian Fitzgibbons, The Professor, Gaycest.com/CarnalPlus.com
- Jessica Jasmin, Siouxsie Q & Michael Vegas, For You, I Will, Disruptive Films/ASGMax.com
- Jake Jaxson & RJ Sebastian, Jake Jaxson’s Happy Endings, CockyBoys
- Janick Legrand & Raph North, Strong Suit, MenAtPlay.com/Raging Stallion
- Marc MacNamara, The Swords, NakedSword Originals
- Micah Martinez, Silent Hill: Delirium, KinkMen.com
- Alter Sin, Dis-Connecting, Gay Angel Films/TLAVideo
Best Directing – Non-Feature
- Alternativa, Blame it on Rio, NakedSword X Rhyheim
- Ryan Brian, Make it Last, Hot House
- Gio Caruso, Obsessed With Big Cock, Pride Studios
- Steve Cruz, Trade Show, Falcon
- Brian Davilla, The Cumback, Pantheon Productions
- Tony Dimarco, Sweat. Fuck. Repeat., Raging Stallion
- F4GS, Seed City, RawFuckClub/Dark Alley Media
- Ricky Greenwood, Kinky Scenarios, Icon Male
- Luke Hamill & Marty Stevens, Deep Blue: A Greek Adventure, BelAmi
- Jake Jaxson, Raphael Massicotte & RJ Sebastian, Boys Will Be Boys, CockyBoys.com/RandyBlue.com
- Marc MacNamara & Alter Sin, WanderLust: Barcelona, NakedSword Originals
- Conrad Parker & Walden Woods, Service Station, Next Door Studios
- Alex Roman, Three Can Play, Helix Studios
- Strongboli & Carlos Caballero, Men of Action, Kristen Bjorn/Sarava Productions
- Timmy Treasure & Legrand Wolf, International Scout Boys, ScoutBoys.com/Staxus.com/CarnalPlus.com
Best Duo Sex Scene
- “Austin and Liam Reunited,” GuysInSweatpants.com; Liam Cyber & Austin Wilde
- “Barron & Eli,” CorbinFisher.com; Barron & Eli
- “The Best Man,” Men.com; Johnny Donovan & Dom King
- “Big Cock Swap,” HelixStudios.com; Silas Brooks & Spikey Dee
- Cheat Day, Falcon; Trevor Brooks & Cade Maddox
- Dis-Connecting, Gay Angel Films/TLAVideo; Tyler Berg & Andy Onassis
- “Fast & Vicious (Part 2),” Men.com; Skyy Knox & Austin Wolf
- “Feelin' Special,” Next Door Originals/ASGMax.com; Lane Colten & Jordan Starr
- Jake Jaxson’s Happy Endings, CockyBoys; Tristan Hunter & Cody Seiya
- “Mutual Admiration,” TwinkTop.com/CarnalPlus.com; Eddie Patrick & Ethan Tate
- Overdrive, Raging Stallion; Derek Kage & Paul Wagner
- “Powerfuck,” CutlersDen.com; Jason Luna & Cutler X
- Steamy Encounters, DeAngelo Jackson & Zario Travezz, Noir Male
- “Stepbro's Back Home,” Next Door Originals/ASGMax.com; Kyle Fletcher & Ryder Owens
- The Swords: Final Cut, NakedSword Originals; Cole Connor & Sean Zevran
Best Feature
- Dis-Connecting, Gay Angel Films/TLAVideo
- Changes, Next Door Films/ASGMax.com
- Cumming Home for Christmas, Falcon
- For You, I Will, Disruptive Films/ASGMax.com
- Guilty as Sin, Raging Stallion
- Jake Jaxson’s Happy Endings, CockyBoys
- Overdrive, Raging Stallion
- The Professor, Gaycest.com/CarnalPlus.com
- The Swords, NakedSword Originals
- Silent Hill: Delirium, KinkMen.com
Best Featurette
- “Accidental Pornstar,” Men.com; Joey Mills & Colton Reece
- “An Executive Bargain,” MenAtPlay.com, Justin Jett & Bastian Karim
- “Dexter: New Breed,” ColbyKnox.com; Colby Chambers & Mickey Knox
- “Divergence” (Parts 1 & 2), Next Door Films & Disruptive Films/ASGMax.com; Derek Kage & Trevor Harris
- “Dixson,” Himeros.tv; Michael Klashman & SaytrBoy
- “Military Insubordination,” Forbidden Seductions/AdultTime.com; Jeremiah Cruze & Blain O'Connor
- “Good Rubber (Part 1)”, Men.com; Dom King & Sam Ledger
- “Grand Canyon Hike with Dillon & Jake,” LustCinema.com; Dillon Diaz & Jake Waters
- “Just 2 Curious,” Next Door Films/ASGMax.com; Brandon Anderson, Jayden Marcos & Andrew Miller
- Kinky Scenarios, Icon Male; Dante Colle & Jkab Ethan Dale
- “Lust Triangles: Coach's Coming Out,” ModernDaySins.com / AdultTime.com; Blaze Austin, Dylan Hayes & Drew Sebastian
- “Marriage Material,” Disruptive Films / ASGMax.com; Calvin Banks & Jayden Marcos
- “Third Wheel,” BroNetwork; Braxton Cruz & Cody Seiya
- “Top Dad,” ManRoyale.com / GayRoom.com; Reese Rideout & Jake Waters
- “The Wayfaring Stranger,” CockyBoys.com; Daniel Evans & Sean Ford
Best Fetish Scene
- “Banging the Holly Jumper,” Men.com; Damian Night & Jake Preston
- “Fraternity Fantasies: Pledges Strike Back,” Next Door Studios/ASGMax.com; Nico Coopa, Des Irez, Max Lorde & Jayden Marcos
- “Hard Riding,” Masqulin.com/BroNetwork.com; Only Matt & Mateo Tomas
- International Scout Boys (Chapter 5: Spying on Scoutmaster), ScoutBoys.com/Staxus.com/CarnalPlus.com; Trent Benz, Serg Shepard, Adam Snow & Legrand Wolf
- “He'll Give You What I Can't,” Watch You Cheat/AdultTime.com; Brogan, Jkab Ethan Dale & Caden Jackson
- “How To Act on Impure Thoughts,” Missionary Boys/SayUncle.com; Aaron Allen, Nick Floyd & Ty Roderick
- Jake Jaxson’s Happy Endings, CockyBoys; Daniel Evans & Sean Xavier
- Play Date, FetishForce; Derek Kage, Colton Reece & Drew Valentino
- “Self-Sucking Twink Is Packing Large,” Men.com; Spikey Dee & Joey Mills
- Strong Suit, MenAtPlay/Raging Stallion; Beau Butler & Sir Peter
- “Tears,” Himeros.tv; Nico Nova & Vander Pulaski
- “Tied Up Tuesday: Dropping the Ropes,” PeterFever.com; Nolan Knox, Ty Roderick, Zed Sheng & Jay Tee
- “To Love, Honor and Obey,” KinkMen.com; Cliff Jensen, Derek Kage & Christian Wilde
- “Whatever It Takes,” Kinkmen.com; Max Konnor & Jake Waters
- “When Push Comes to Shove,” Club Inferno/FistingInferno.com; Devin Franco, Eli Shaw & Mat Wolff
Best Group Sex Scene
- “All-Star Fourway,” BelAmiOnline.com: Peter Annaud, Jack Harrer, Alan Mosca & Mario Texiera
- “Axel, Blake, Brysen, Clark & Eddie's Big Orgy,” SeanCody.com; Blake, Eddie Burke, Brysen, Clark Reid & Axel Rockham
- Blame it on Rio, NakedSword X Rhyheim; Blessed Boy, Beau Butler, Gabriel Coimbra, Marcelo Caiazzo, Markin Wolf, Gael, Samuel Hodecker, Grande Simões, Andy Rodrigues & Alex Rosso
- “Breedable Part 1 & 2,” VisionXFlix.com; Mr. Cali, Jordan Jameson, Alex Kof, Butta Nutt & Champ Robinson
- “Fire Drilled,” AccidentalGangBang.com/AdultTime.com; Sean Duran, Kyle Fletcher, Tony Genius, Jake Jaxx, Bruce Jones, Trent Marx & Lucca Mazzi
- “Gang Bang Buddies (Part 1 & 2),” RawFuckClub.com; Doug Deep, Dr. F4G, JackAries, Miguel Rey, MonsterPapiMeat, Owen Hawk & Zario Travezz
- “I’ll Be Hole for Christmas,” SayUncle.com; Adrian Duval, Jaycob Eloisee, Brody Kayman & Dakota Lovell
- Jake Jaxson’s Happy Endings, CockyBoys; Trevor Brooks, Lane Colten, Tristan Hunter, Greyson Myles, Shae Reynolds & Cody Seiya
- “Joaquin's DP Fuckfest,” Timtales.com; Nano Maso, Joaquin Santana, Igor Silva & Caio Veyron
- “Neighborhood Secret Tape 12: Double Feature,” Gaycest.com / CarnalPlus.com; Tucker Barrett, Brian Bonds, Myott Hunter & Marcus Rivers
- “Southwest College Boys Group Fuck,” ColbyKnox.com; Colby Chambers, Carter Collins, Mickey Knox & Oliver Marks
- Strong Suit, MenAtPlay / Raging Stallion; Zac Johnson, Sir Peter, Babylon Prince & Dani Robles
- Trade Show, Falcon; Grant Ducati, Kane Fox, Vincent O’Reilly & Sean Xavier
- Wild in Rio, NakedSword X Rhyheim / NakeSword Originals; Gael, Andy Rodrigues, Rhyheim Shabazz, Elijah Zayne & Mateo Zagal
- “Xxxmas Pandemoanium,” CorbinFisher.com; Calan, Chris, Eli & Rocky
Best Newcomer
- Trevor Brooks
- Lobo Carreira
- Lane Colten
- Braxton Cruz
- Spikey Dee
- Nick Floyd
- Tony Genius
- Derek Kage
- Dom King
- Jason Luna
- Oliver Marks
- Ryder Owens
- Jake Preston
- Serg Shepard
- Adam Snow
Best Supporting Actor
- Brian Bonds, Friends in Heat: Season 1, Luxxxe Studios
- Dante Colle, For You, I Will, Disruptive Films/ASGMax.com
- Tony Genius, Changes, Next Door Films/ASGMax.com
- Derek Kage, Silent Hill: Delirium, KinkMen.com
- DeAngelo Jackson, Cumming Home for Christmas, Falcon Studios
- Max Konnor, The Swords, NakedSword Originals
- Xtian Mingle, Full Holes, FamilyDick.com/SayUncle.com
- Sir Peter, Strong Suit, MenAtPlay.com/Raging Stallion
- Cody Seiya, Jake Jaxson’s Happy Endings, CockyBoys
- Ken Summers, Dis-Connecting, Gay Angel Films/TLAVideo
- Drew Valentino, Guilty As Sin, Raging Stallion
- Paul Wagner, Overdrive, Raging Stallion
- Noah White, The Professor, Gaycest.com/CarnalPlus.com
- Austin Wolf, Fast & Vicious, Men.com
- Dean Young, The Swords: First Mission, NakedSword Originals
Best Three-Way Sex Scene
- Boys Will Be Boys, CockyBoys.com/RandyBlue.com; Daniel Evans, Evan Knoxx & Diego Sans
- “Caught With Them Pants Down,” TrailerTrashBoys.com; Carter Collins, Oliver Marks & Jordan Starr
- “Cum Meat My Cowboy,” ColbyKnox.com; Calvin Banks, Colby Chambers & Drake Von
- “Fucked in 50 Seconds,” CutlersDen.com; Brock Banks, Romeo Davis & Cutler X
- “Fun on the Job,” Next Door Originals/ASGMax.com; Nico Coopa, Kane Fox & Jayden Marcos
- “Giuspel's DP Session,” Timtales.com; Tommy Dreams, Giuspel & Martin
- “Jorik with Jamie & Mikael,” Freshmen.net/BelAmi; Jamie Elliot, Mikael Nyoman & Jorik Tautou
- Kinky Scenarios, IconMale.com; Michael Boston, Tony Genius & Bruce Jones
- “The Professor: Meeting the Assistant,” Gaycest.com/CarnalPlus.com; Cole Blue, Adam Snow & Noah White
- “Professors Choice,” NoirMale.com; Asher Day, Dillon Diaz & Tony Genius
- “Slopes & Sex (Part 3),” Men.com; Braxton Cruz, Troye Dean & Jake Preston
- Tongue in Cheek, Raging Stallion; Beau Butler, Lawson James & Morgxn Thicke
- “Twink Spitroast,” HelixStudios.com; Seth Peterson, Kai Taylor & Chase Williams
- “Turning Dylan Out,” CorbinFisher.com; Dylan, Rocky & Roman
- Wild in Rio, NakedSword X Rhyheim/NakedSword.com; Marlon Costa, Sam Ledger & Rhyheim Shabazz
Performer of the Year
- Silas Brooks
- Beau Butler
- Cade Maddox
- Cole Connor
- Dillon Diaz
- Jim Durden
- Jayden Marcos
- Joey Mills
- Damian Night (aka Roman)
- Sir Peter
- Cody Seiya
- Rhyheim Shabazz
- Roman Todd
- Legrand Wolf
- Sean Xavier
My impression from seeing performers bicker about awards on Twitter/X is that they're largely bought, unless it's specified as a fan-voted award. I don't know who manages these things, but I'm guessing an accounting firm is not involved. And I'm curious how the voting body accesses all of this content. Do porn studios choose scenes/performers to promote with FYC screeners the way film and TV studios do for their awards? I'd love more insight into how these awards are run.
While I'm a porn fan, I've never paid much attention to these awards. I'm sure they're nice way for performers/directors/studios to feel recognized and celebrated. And yet, they also create a source of drama and contention.
I'm also not sure how I feel about AVN and GayVN needing to be separate. AVN Awards categories include lesbian and transgender girl categories. It seems that GayVN is its own thing solely to exclude gay and bisexual performers from the main show. Here are some of the AVN Awards categories that are otherwise part of the LGBTQ+ community.
- All-Girl Performer of the Year - Female performer with the most outstanding body of work during the eligibility term involving sexual interplay strictly with other women.
- Best All-Girl Gonzo/Anthology Production - Full-length work comprised of multiple basic sex scenes, vignettes and/or featurettes all strictly involving women.
- Best All-Girl Group Sex Scene - Most outstanding U.S.-shot sex scene between three or more women.
- Best All-Girl Narrative Production - Feature-length or longer production employing a single full-arc narrative and containing multiple sex scenes strictly involving women.
- Best All-Girl Series or Channel - Line of sex scenes/full productions strictly involving women; must be released under a uniform title/subsite name and meet applicable scene quantity criteria.
- Best Girl/Girl Sex Scene - Most outstanding U.S.-shot sex scene between two women.
- Best Three-Way Sex Scene – B/B/G - Most outstanding U.S-shot sex scene involving one woman and two men; excludes double-penetration scenes.
- Best Three-Way Sex Scene – G/G/B - Most outstanding U.S.-shot sex scene involving two women and one man.
- Best Transgender Group Sex Scene - Most outstanding sex scene between three or more people including at least one transgender performer.
- Best Transgender One-on-One Sex Scene - Most outstanding sex scene between a transgender performer and one other person.
- Best Transgender Production - Full-length work with a primary theme of and multiple sex scenes all featuring transgender performers.
- Best Transgender Series or Channel - Line of sex scenes/full productions featuring transgender performers; must be released under a uniform title/subsite name and meet applicable scene quantity criteria.
- Transgender Performer of the Year - Transgender performer with the most outstanding body of work during the eligibility term (sex, acting and marketability all considered).
AVN Awards also includes creative arts categories that don't get a home at GayVN, meaning the work of these talents will never be recognized.
- Best Art Direction - Recognizes the design of a production including its sets and costumes.
- Best Cinematography - Recognizes the photographic craftsmanship and overall look of a production.
- Best Comedic Screenplay - Most outstanding achievement in writing for a scripted comedic production.
- Best Comedy - Feature-length or longer production with a strong emphasis on comedic scenarios/storytelling; may be comprised of funny vignettes, featurettes or a traditional three-act narrative
- Best Drama - Feature-length or longer narrative production employing dramatic, full-arc storytelling as a primary element.
- Best Dramatic Screenplay - Most outstanding achievement in writing for a scripted dramatic production.
- Best Editing - Most outstanding achievement in the craftsmanship with which a production is assembled.
- Best Makeup - Recognizes the use of makeup and hairstyling to enhance a production.
- Best Non-Sex Performance - Most outstanding acting performance not involving any sexual component beyond nudity.
- Best Parody - Feature-length or longer narrative or anthology-style production spoofing or mimicking one or more mainstream media source(s) or public figure(s).
- Best Soundtrack - Recognizes the use of music to enhance a production.
- Best Special Effects - Most outstanding achievement in the creation of visual effects within a production.
- Clever Title of the Year - Recognizes creative, clever or just plain outrageous titling of an adult production. Not based on quality of production.
- Most Outrageous Sex Scene - Sex scene that is creatively unique and has impact beyond normal eroticism; typically depicts something shocking or outlandish.
Not to mention there's the AVN Hall of Fame, but there's no GayVN equivalent. Doing a cursory glance, the only person relevant to gay porn to have ever won is Chi Chi LaRue for directing, but I could be wrong.
There's a whole wikipedia page devoted to that specific category and I'd love to be proven wrong.
Speaking of crossover...
- Dante Colle is nominated for 3 GayVN Awards and 6 AVN Awards
- Roman Todd is nominated for 3 GayVN Awards and 2 AVN Awards
- Jayden Marcos is nominated for 7 GayVN Awards and 0 AVN Awards