A writer and a performer Matjaž Pikalo was born in Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia in 1963. He graduated in Ethnology and Sociology from the Faculty of Arts in Ljubljana. He also completed a post-graduate study in Ethnology at the St. Denis University of Paris. So far he is the author of books of poetry, novels, children’s books, books on football, theatre plays, libretto for rock musical, screenplays for short and for feature films (Think Good and Wise, The Red Rocket and Nika) and for television (music tale Beasts friends). In 1998 he won the second international Pablo Neruda Award in Trieste. In 2002 Luža (Puddle) won the Slovene literary award večernica for the best book for young readers. In 2004 he received the Certificate of Honour for Writing on Ibby Congress in Capetown for Puddle. The same year he also received the international award Arte Senza Confine for previously un-published poetry for his collection Think Good and Wise in Calla di Pulfero, Italy. Matjaž also founded the music group Autodafé, for which he is the singer, songwriter and accordion-player, which mainly plays traditional and ethnic-inspired music, includes the other genres: reggae, ska, punk, rock, cabaret, chanson etc. They have recorded three CDs and music for two films. At last, but not at least, since 2006 he is the captain of Nogometniki, Football Art Team Slovenia.
