About the Danish Film Academy
The Danish Film Academy is a society of distinguished film- and tv-professionals with the common goal of promoting and maintaining the highest standards within their field. Today comprised of over 2.800 accomplished members, the Academy (locally known as Danmarks Filmakademi or DFA) was founded in 1982 by a small group of film professionals. Inspiration came from the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and their Oscars as well as the British BAFTA and the French César. The credo was to ‘promote film as an independent artform in Denmark’.
This goal was quickly realized as the filmmakers backed the idea and professionals quickly signed up as members while work on the first award show was underway and the prize got a physical form and a name - Robert. Like the César the prize took its name from its creator, the renowned Danish modernist sculptor Robert Jacobsen, who was also a cineast. Early 1984 saw the first Danish Film Awards and Robert statuettes bestowed to the most excellent achievements in national and international filmmaking from the year 1983.
Since then the Danish Film Awards and the Roberts 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 in distribution and exhibition. It is only the members who can nominate and vote. They are divided into categories depending on their craft and thus 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.
In addition to the Awards ceremony, the Academy also host year-round activities including events, workshops and masterclasses for its members as well as regular audiences. The Academy rely on income from the national industry unions, foundations, the Danish Film Institute and corporate partnerships. The production and secretariat is run by Elisabeth Victoria Winther and ADBC.