Martin Smatana

Martin Smatana is an Animation graduate of FAMU in Prague, Czech Republic. His graduation film, “The Kite,” premiered at Berlinale and made it to the semifinals of the Student Academy Awards. It was included in the Film Collection at the MoMA in New York and has won over 60 international awards.

Martin is the author of A Year of Good News, inspired by how he cheered up his friends when they were going through difficult times. Every week he researched and chose a “good news” story from around the world and illustrated it with a cheerful image he fashioned from used fabrics. He hopes that this book, featuring 52 illustrated good news stories, will put smiles on readers’ faces across the globe.