Digital Playground is having a sort of resurgence lately and is really banging out some amazing movies. This year, their movie Gold Diggers won Best Picture at this year’s AVN awards. Actually, AVN calls it the “Grand Reel,” but basically, it’s like the Oscar’s Best Picture award.

No, no, I don’t mean the Bluebird Films movie Gold Diggers. While a great flick, I’m actually referring to the masterpiece that Ricky Greenwood directed.

Gold Diggers (Directed by Ricky Greenwood): In the dusty desert town of Santa Clarita, home of Gold Diggers saloon and brothel, news of a gold rush brings prospectors from far and wide, all willing to get rich or die trying. Amidst the frenzy, the beautiful but deadly Maria (Kimmy Granger) and Sade (Adria Rae) team up to hunt down a wanted man, the notorious Charles Glanton (Scott Nails). The foxy gunslingers are looking to strike pay dirt with a hefty reward…and enough gold to change their fortunes for good.

Over the years, AVN has called their top honors various things, such as Best Film, Best Video Feature, Movie of the Year, and most recently, ‘Grand Reel,’ but in the end, no matter what they call it, it still works out to be … this is the best movie of the year.

So, let’s talk about which movies have received the highest honor over the past few years.

Machine Gunner (Directed by Ricky Greenwood): Black ops soldiers must be willing to get dirty and deploy every weapon at their disposal – including unconventional ones – to get the job done. Nobody knows that better than badass squad leader Nikki Ransom (Kira Noir), whose clandestine paramilitary unit is tasked with tracking down and capturing disgraced colonel Joe Riggs (Alex Jones). To complicate matters, Riggs and Ransom have a history that risks jeopardizing the assighment,, When Ransom’s squad is ambushed by Rigg’s rogue militia, they’re to use rough tactics and an arsenal of firearms to fight and fuck their way through enemy lines to complete their explosive, shootout-filled mission.

Grinders (Directed by Ricky Greenwood): Somewhere in the 90s… Featuring a cast of new and upcoming adult talent, Grinders is a 90s inspired coming-of-age movie filmed in the no-rules skateboard aesthetic of that era. Lucky is a 20+ yr old skateboarder at a crossroads in his life. As he wanders the city, landing tricks and running into old friends and new enemies, we are treated to glimpses of the sex lives of those around him. With Lucky slowly coming out of his shell, he gets back in touch with his longtime crush Morgan. But soon after, he’s faced with the toughest choice of his life. Will Lucky make the right decision? 

Inspired by classic 90’s skateboard movies and shot in a documentary fashion, this new project from AVN Director of the Year 2022 Ricky Greenwood is a love letter to the films of yesterday and to an era that holds a special place in the heart of its director.

Casey: A True Story (Directed by Joanna Angel): Based on the true story of award-winning adult performer Casey Kisses. An emotional and uplifting look at one trans woman’s journey to become herself in the most unlikely of places. Cameron is a small-town drifter who aspires to join the local biker club. A loyal hangaround, he quickly rises through the ranks to ride alongside the President. But Cameron has a secret. What starts out as sexual curiosity leads to the realization that the young biker is not who she seems. A ‘coming of identity’ story that shines an important light on the unique experience of transitioning and why sharing real stories is a first step towards overcoming real stigmas.

Muse (Directed by Kayden Kross): On the eve of the nation’s pandemic shutdown, university students grapple with an unconventional prompt at the behest of an infamous professor (Maitland Ward). In working through their projects, each student has to face reality and examine the role they have come to play and what is expected of them. Their revelations are woven into the fabric of their work and send shock waves through each of their personal lives. It also stars Adriana Chechik, Gianna Dior, Scarlet Scandal, and Lena Paul.

Teenage Lesbian (Directed by Bree Mills):  Set in the 1990s and told as a series of memories, Teenage Lesbian is an emotional and uplifting look at an eighteen-year-old’s final year of high school as she comes to terms with herself and her homosexuality. It is a “coming of age” story set in the decade before gay rights became a household conversation and a powerful reminder of the power of acceptance. Based on a true story.

So what do you think? Do you have a favorite? I personally was a fan of Machine Gunner, the 2024 winner, but I’d love to hear your thoughts.