While still a student at Prague's renowned film academy FAMU, Ivan was asked to direct commercials, music videos and documentaries and quickly developed a reputation as the most interesting and innovative director to emerge from this region for several years.

Ivan's films have won several awards and commendations at film festivals. His first TV commercials for Prague National Gallery won him the Golden Drum for the best Cenral European commercial in 1994 and 1995 respectively. His film 'Peace Army' a worldwide PSA commemorating the United Nations 50th Anniversary, was presented at the 1995 Cannes Festival at a special event sponsored by Kodak.

From 1997 to 2000 Ivan won several BTA awards, D&AD (best commercial director in the U.K), Cannes Gold and Silver and many other international awards.

Ivan has also been featured several times in Shots magazine, Creativity in the US and numerous publications around the world.