BERLIN — Last night marked the much anticipated, grand return to Berlin of the XBIZ Europa Awards — presented by Satisfyer — the first in-person installment since 2019, after two very successful virtual editions during the pandemic era.
And grand it was.
The venue chosen for, as the announcer proclaimed, ”adult entertainment’s biggest night in Europe,” could not have been more majestic: the Metropol Berlin in the posh Schoeneberg district, a historical landmark originally built in 1906 that has been witnessing theatrical and musical performances — from Shakespeare to German Expressionism to techno — for well over an extremely eventful century.
The step-and-repeat for the 2022 XBIZ Europa red carpet was set up right in front of the early modernist building — an official “State Monument” with Art Nouveau influences — as the larger-than-life relief sculptures on the facade representing the debauchery of Dionysian rituals loomed over both the serpentine queue of adult performs and business leaders waiting to be memorialized by flash-wielding photographers, and a throng of curious passersby that began congregating as soon as the locals realized that the stars of their favorite scenes and movies were right there, in the flesh.
The hallowed entrance that once upon a time was trod by Berlin art and theater giants like Erwin Piscator, George Grosz and Bertolt Brecht now gave way to a who’s-who of Europe’s top adult talent, who struck sensual poses for the flashes before proceeding to be interviewed by red carpet host Zaawaadi.
Resplendent in a shimmering multicolor minigown and elevated on stylish gold pleasers with a flower motif, the stunning African-German model known for her bare scalp and (last night, quite literally) traffic-stopping looks and figure, greeted the arriving nominees who were ready to cap the international 2022 XBIZ Berlin conference with a winning soirée of merriment and award-bestowing.
The attendees entered the Metropol foyer — restored in the 2000s in a vintage style reminiscent of its Weimar-era glory days — and headed up the stairs to the main stage area, which had been arranged with tables in the manner of a traditional Berlin cabaret or nightclub, and lined up at the classic bar or enjoyed the bottle service at the VIP tables.
As the lights dimmed, co-hosts Cherry Kiss and Vince Karter welcomed back everyone, declaring how amazing it felt “to come together again for adult’s biggest night in Europe.”
“I’m very happy to share the stage with Vince Karter, my one true love,” Cherry Kiss told the audience, hailing her “partner in crime” and remarking on how the tightly-knit community of Euro performers gathered last night in the historic hall “like to share everything,” also orgiastically speaking.
“Guys — everybody here has fucked each other!” the gold begowned Cherry Kiss revealed, to no one’s surprise. “We are one big porno family! I mean look at us, we are elegant and sexy. Who the fuck would not want to get sexy with each other, right?”
“Sharing is caring!” Karter — in a jacketless grey vest fit — told the applauding crowd, before both hosts acknowledged that the Euro community during the recent era had “been through the shit,” led chants of “Fuck the pandemic” and “Fuck the war,” and encouraged the group to acknowledge their hardy knack for surviving and thriving.
The first award, for Best Glamcore Scene, was presented by Brit stars Danny D. and Kiki Minaj, the latter in a form-fitting, dramatically back-baring green dress. The winners were Catherine Knight and Erik Everhard for Private’s “Friends With Benefits.” The brunette head-turner took to the stage in a tight flesh-color dress and thanked everyone and XBIZ for the accolade, but returned moments later to receive her second award of the evening for Best Lesbian Sex Scene, which she shared with Scarlett Jones for Sex Art’s “Sirens.”
Cheered on with “U.K., let’s go!” by the Brit presenters, Jones — in a stunning green gown that complemented her signature red hair and showcased her equally signature bountiful physique — thanked her and Knight’s agent, Julmodels’ Julia Grandi and “all my fans.”
Statuesque Harmony Films contract star Amber-Jayne announced the award for Performer/Director Site of the Year, which went to LittleCaprice-Dreams.com. Joined by her partner Marcello Bravo, returning award winner Little Caprice, in a shoulderless black gown, said she had not prepared a speech because she “did not expect to receive this award for the second time in a row,” before squealing in delight. “We love sex and we make the world more happy, right?” Bravo added, “and we have the best job in the world!”
Amber-Jayne then announced Scottish powerhouse Lana Wolf as the Premium Social Media Star of the Year. Taking to the stage in an ultrashort, ultratight blue number with distinctive diagonal stripe stockings, Wolf made sure to vocally represent Scotland, Glasgow and her beloved Rangers soccer team.
Lotte Magne, in a distinctive hip, white lace tradwife-style gown, and Sybil, in a shockingly lime green suit and purple shirt, presented the awards for Best Innovative Sex Toy of the Year to the Tease Us Kit by We-Vibe/Wow Tech and Sex Lubricant Company of the Year to Pjur. Pjur’s Marco Castor received the latter award for his product.
Magne and Sybil then presented the award for Fetish Product/Line of the Year, which went to Lovehoney’s Fifty Shades of Grey Sweet Anticipation. Lovehoney’s Anna Fragale accepted the award for the movie and novel sensation franchise tie-in.
Content creator couple extraordinaire MySweetApple (in matching red hues) jointly presented the Emerging Web Brand of the Year award to LiveUnicorns and Virtual Reality Site of the Year to VRBangers.com. VR Bangers’ Mike Henigan (aka, The Guy) thanked “XBIZ for bringing us here today and everyone in the industry because we wouldn’t be who we are without you.”
Amira Adarah — in a red trousers and black halter top ensemble topped by a black fedora — and Zaawaadi presented the award for Gonzo Movie of the Year to “Rocco’s Sex Clinic: Treatment 1” (Rocco Siffredi Films/Evil Angel) and Glamcore Movie of the Year to Tushy’s “Views 2.”
Director Julia Grandi — clad in celebratory all green — accepted the award for “Views 2” telling the crowd “I love you all.”
The co-hosts returned after a brief intermission to celebrate how the “thank you” speeches were unprepared and “all natural.”
“I’m super-ready to see more sex videos on our beautiful screen!” Cherry Kiss announced, kicking off the second half of the show.
Lorenzo Viota and Mariska announced Zaawaadi and Maximo Garcia as the winners for Best Sex Scene — Gonzo for Rocco Siffredi Films/Evil Angel’s “The Spanish Stallion: Zaawaadi’s Power of Wild Beauty.”A visibly moved Zaawaadi returned to the stage to accept the award and express her appreciation for the win.
Viota and Mariska also announced that the Best Sex Scene — Feature Movie award went to Sonya Blaze, Jia Lissa and Manuel Ferrara, for Vixen’s “Jia” showcase. Jia Lissa accepted the honor and declared herself “speechless” before turning around in her backless, shimmering minidress and added “I have one statement to make,” displaying the words “Porn Is Art” written on marker on her bare back and raising her arms in victory.
Little Caprice announced the award for Sex Toy Product of the Year — Powered (Vibrating) bestowed upon Adrien Lastic’s Inspiration. Adrian Lastic’s Gene Bebeshko enthused about the “beautiful people” in the room, thanking them for the accolade.
Little Caprice also announced that the award for Pleasure Products Company of the Year went to “her favorite,” Satisfyer. Irina Krämer, in a stunning leg-baring pink gown, stated how pleased she was “to represent Satisfyer on this stage” and acknowledged “all my colleagues for all the work they do every single day by creating new, amazing products, and by promoting our brand.”
Kink.com contract director and alt-model Sabien DeMonia — always a sartorial highlight in an off-white gown that best displayed her signature tattoos — announced the award for Best Acting, bestowed on Danny D. for his sci-fi opus “Deeper Space” (Digital Playground). “And the winner is…” DeMonia celebrated, “ the biggest dick in fucking Europe — Danny D.!”
The slender British industry stalwart, smart in a tailored suit, said he appreciated the award especially “in a difficult time” and told the crowd he was so glad they “came through” for the ceremony.
DeMonia then announced the Director of the Year award, which went to Julia Grandi. The noted multi-hyphenate powerhouse returned onstage to receive it, cheered on by her agency’s models, and expressed gratitude for her important individual win.
Cam stars Callum and Cole — in jacketless formal attire with suspenders — and turquoise-haired Goddess Lilith in a virtually transparent gown announced redheaded, purple-clad Brit Lola Rose as the Best Clip Artist of the Year and Cara Vega as Cam Model of the Year. Vega thanked her mom “for the genetics, my fans for always voting, and my raging ADHD for always keeping me entertaining.”
The dream team of Valentina Nappi (in a Jean-Paul Gaultier-inspired gender-bending dress) and Anna de Ville (in her signature award-show Gothic-chic finery) presented Feature Movie of the Year to Lust Cinema’s “The Listener.”
Co-protagonist Romeo, who plays a “Twin Peaks”-inspired detective in the cinematic work by Italian auteur Lidia Ravviso, took to the stage to call the film “the best movie I’ve ever been involved in, and I’m super happy you guys feel the exact same way. This is a piece of fucking art, and all of you guys need to go see it because it is beautiful.”
Nappi and de Ville returned to announce that the Best New Performer accolade went to bodacious redhead stunner Scarlett Jones, who thanked her fans and, once again, Julia Grandi.
The final awards of the night were announced by Misha Cross, in a self-styled cowboy-inspired ensemble in pink and black. The Male Performer of the Year was show co-host Vince Karter who expressed enormous gratitude, yelling out a celebratory “Finally!”
Female Performer of the Year was lithe blonde sensation Tiffany Tatum, who screamed her thanks in a sparkling flapper-style minidress.
The brand-new Male POTY and his partner in crime returned one last time as co-hosts to close the show and officially declare it the best XBIZ Europa Awards ever.
“All of us are winners and now it’s the time to celebrate and go out for one good party!” Cherry Kiss announced, releasing the crowds out of the historic Metropol and into the legendary Berlin night.
