Hot d'Or () was an adult film industry pornographic award, awarded annually from 1992 to 2001 in Cannes, France by the French trade journal Hot Vidéo.
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".
Award history
1st Annual Hot d'Or (1992)
Best Foreign Actress: Zara Whites - Rêves de cuir
Best French Actress: Carole Tennessy
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 - Délit de 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)