Jan Svěrák (born February 6, 1965 in Žatec) is the most successful Czech film director since the Velvet Revolution in 1989. He is the son of the prominent screenwriter and actor Zdeněk Svěrák. He studied documentary filmmaking at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. He and his films have received dozens of awards, including the Academy Award, Crystal Globe, Golden Globe, and Tokyo Grand Prix.