It was embodied on a statuette of the gaucho Martín Fierro, by sculptor Luis Perlotti, weighing over 2 kilograms (4 lb).
[2] Because of the censorship and persecution of artists carried over during the 1976-83 military dictatorship, the membership of APTRA dwindled and the awards were suspended.
Since 1995, it has also included special productions for cable networks, and – in 1992 – the Golden Martín Fierro was added to honor the "best of the best".
It is given to a single person or production in the annual ceremony, and it is intended as a prize to trajectory or to outstanding quality.
The first winner was the host show "Fax", and the most recent one the TV series 100 días para enamorarse.