Martín Fierro Awards

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Martín Fierro is the name of the most prominent awards for Argentine radio and television, granted by APTRA, the Association of Argentine Television and Radio Journalists. The awards were first given in 1959, limited to television. It was embodied on a statuette of a gaucho, by sculptor Luis Perlotti, weighing over 2 kg. The next year the awards adopted the name Martín Fierro, after the national poem of the country. Before 1967 all awards were given to Buenos Aires' media, but nowadays there is a special, rotating, venue honoring the winners of the interior of the country.

Because of the censorship and persecution of artists carried over since 1976 by the military government, the membership of APTRA dwindled and the awards were suspended. It was not until 1988 that a newer edition was granted. Since 1990 it has also included special productions for cable networks and in 1992 the Golden Martín Fierro was added to honor the "best among the best ones."