The graphically distinct Robert statuette might be small in size, but it weighs heavily in form and importance to all film- and tv-professionals in Denmark. This is true because it is their colleagues in the Danish Film Academy who both nominate and single out the best achievements of the year. 

The Danish Film Academy, which was founded in 1982, and its Robert award thus resembles fellow film academies and their awards like the American Oscar, the British BAFTA and the French César. Like the latter the statuette takes its name from its formgiver, in this case the world famous Danish modernist sculptor Robert Jacobsen, who was also a cineast. The first Danish Film Awards were held in 1984 honoring the best achievements in cinema from 1983. 

Ever since the Danish Film Awards and the Robert have been an annual celebration recognizing excellence in the motion picture arts and sciences, not just in front of and behind the camera, but also with distributors and exhibitors. Shots and documentaries have been awarded from the start, whereas the best achievements in tv-fiction were included in 2012.

It is only the members of the Film Academy who can nominate and vote. The 2600 Academy members are divided into categories depending on their craft and they nominate within their own field - cinematographers nominate best cinematography, makeup best makeup etc. All members vote among the final nominated. Nominations are announced the first week of the year and the award show takes place late January/early February. The Danish Film Awards is streamed live and had more than 100.000 viewers in 2021.