FOCUS ON: Martin Smatana

FOCUS ON: Martin Smatana

Martin Smatana is an award-winning freelance director of animated films and illustrator from Slovakia. In his work, he brings stories to life through stop motion animation, crafting poetic worlds by hand from everyday materials, most often textiles and paper. His graduation film The Kite premiered at Berlinale 2019 and reached the semifinals of the Student Academy Awards. His latest short Hello Summer, co-directed with Veronika Zacharová, was honored with the prestigious Prix Jeune Public for Best Children’s Film in 2024 at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France.