(Hollywood, CA) Last week, XBIZ rolled out the red carpet and had an impressive nominations party at Keys in the heart of West Hollywood. With the industry dressed to impress in Hollywood-glamour inspired looks, the venue was packed, and many key nominations were announced by some of the biggest stars in the industry. Multi-award-winning, prolific director Jim Powers snagged 11 XMA nominations as a director, for his Gender X Films’ feature, “Transpirella”, his scene work, and more.
Jim Powers’ most significant project of 2025 was Gender X’s “Transpirella,” and it scored four of his 11 XMA nominations. Inspired by the comic book Vampirella, the critic- and fan-acclaimed trans feature helped Jim get nominated for Director of the Year — Individual Work, Best Art Direction, and Best Trans Movie. It also scored a nomination for Best Sex Scene – Trans for Ariel Demure, Avery Lust, and Andylynn Payne. Jim also garnered the significant nomination of Director of the Year — Body of Work (Narrative).
Jim’s feature “The Fucket List” for Adult Time’s Mommy’s Boy also received three noms for Best Comedy Movie, Best Sex Scene – Comedy Movie for Rachael Cavalli and Elias Cash, and Best Sex Scene – Orgy/Group (Male-Led) for Axel Haze, Rachael Cavalli, Sadie Summers, and GoGo Zombi.
Gender X Films’ “Trans Carwash” also scored a Best Trans Movie nod. Jim received two additional Best Sex Scene – Trans nominations for Gender X’s “Trans Orgy” starring Ariel Demure, Tori Easton, Brittney Kade, Khloe Kay, Kasey Kei, Lola Morena, Jade Venus, Cherry Kiss, Michael DelRay, Wolf Hudson, Cliff Jensen, and Steve Rickz and Adult Time’s Accidental Gangbang’s “Too Many Tops” starring Ariel Demure, Khloe Kay, Kasey Kei, Avery Lust, Lola Morena, and Jade Venus.
“My team and I put out some incredible content this year, especially ‘Transpirella,’ which I had been wanting to do for years. It came out exactly as I envisioned it, was well-received by fans, and has received a slew of nominations, which makes me really happy. Thank you, Gender X, for letting me make it, and XBIZ for recognizing our hard work,” says Jim Powers.
A complete list of the nominees can be found at xbiz.com/news/293735/2026-xma-award-nominees-announced.
Presently by Fansly, the 2026 XMAs are set for Sunday, January 18th, at the Hollywood Palladium. This is the culmination of a massive week of XBIZ-slated events, including the XBIZ Expo, Conference, and X3.
To interview Jim Powers for your site, publication, or show, contact Erika Icon of The Rub PR at erika@therubpr.com.
ABOUT JIM POWERS
Jim Powers is one of the most prolific directors of our time, known for his controversial work, and once told Forbes he wants to be the Warren Buffett of porno. Growing up in the Valley in the 1970s, Jim was influenced by comic books, horror movies, fan magazines, and skateboarding, and in the 1980s, all he wanted to do was be a punk rocker and skateboarder. After graduating from Cal State Northridge, he became a stockbroker, a DVD distributor, and a part-time pornographer.
In 1992, while gambling in Bally’s in Vegas, Jim wandered into the AVN Awards and decided he could make a better movie than most people there for $5k—he and his friend put up $2500 each to make “The Hills Have Thighs.” Kevin Beachum of Midnight Pictures encouraged him to shoot amateurs on the beach, even though he had never even picked up a camera. While shooting on the beach in Malibu, his set was shut down, and he was hit with felony charges of pandering and conspiracy. He continued to shoot at private houses and swinger parties for Beachum and other companies to cover his legal bills.
In 1993, a chance meeting with Jeff Mike of JM Productions led to history when the two joined forces, regularly pushing the limits of sex while still staying out of prison. Jim helped them roll out their bukkake line and invented American Bukkake—Downtown Larry Melrose from the Howard Stern Show was frequently on his sets. Jim had his own company, Powersville, and directed for legendary adult studios Heatwave, Mayhem, Sin City, Notorious, Immoral Productions, and Smash Pictures. Currently, he directs for Gender X, Devil’s Film, BiPhoria, Dogfart, Adult Time, Transfixed, and Fantasy Massage, and averages over 300 scenes per year. In 2023, ASN Lifestyle Magazine profiled him with a 10-page feature.
With 50 performer credits and thousands of scenes as a director, Jim won Director of the Year (Body of Work) and Best Director – Non-Feature from the AVN Awards and was inducted into the AVN Hall of Fame in 2005. He’s also scored countless AVN Awards, XMAs, XRCOs, and AEBN’s VOD Awards nominations.
During the Black Flag era, Jim sported a mohawk and toured in punk rock bands. He still plays bass in the punk rock band Killroy at high-end venues like Roxy, Viper Room, and Knitting Factory. Follow his adventures on set, learn more about his upcoming scenes and features, and when he plays punk rock live on stage by checking out his X @jimpowersxxx.
