CHATSWORTH, Calif. – AVN Media Network has opened the pre-nominations period for the 2014 AVN Awards. Producers, manufacturers and retailers may submit products and locations online via a restricted-access website.

In order to be eligible for a 2014 AVN Award nomination, a movie or product must be released by Oct. 7, 2013. “Released” means made available for video-on-demand download and/or physically stocked with five wholesale distributors or 100 retail outlets. Movie titles released via VOD on or before Oct. 7 must be in stock in physical format with five wholesale distributors or 100 retail outlets no later than Oct. 15. The eligibility period includes any movie or product released between Oct. 1, 2012, and Oct. 7, 2013.

“Many will notice that we pushed back the traditional street date deadline for eligibility this year,” AVN Senior Editor Peter Warren said. “We decided to do this in order to accommodate producers whose release schedules were thrown off by the recently imposed industry-wide production halts. We feel this will be a benefit to many who have been set back by the current events impacting the industry.”

The recent production moratoriums also convinced AVN to add two new categories for the 2014 AVN Awards: Best Safe Sex Scene and Best Condom Manufacturer.

“As a show of support for those promoting safe-sex practices, we thought it would be not only fitting but important to add these categories,” Warren said. “While we continue to stand opposed to governmental interference with the product this industry manufactures, we also feel that those whose products encourage safe sex in interesting and innovative ways deserve to be commended.”

AVN also added a pair of new performer accolades: All-Girl Performer of the Year and BBW Performer of the Year.

New awards were added to the web side, as well: Best Web Director, which recognizes the body of work of a director who shoots the majority of his or her content for release on the web, and Best Glamour Website, which includes both still and video imagery.

A full list of categories and complete rules for submission are available here.

To submit pre-noms, industry professionals must register for a user account at the pre-nom site. All applications will be verified. The pre-nominations website will remain open until midnight Oct. 7.

The 31st AVN Awards Show is scheduled to take place Jan. 18, 2014, in The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.