Experiencing Interruptions?

Cell Buddies

Sam, a grumpy raccoon is stuck sharing a cell with Bob, a sweet but dim manatee. In their chaotic jailbreak Sam’s hardened edges soften as Bob’s loyalty shines.

Will they escape? Maybe. But together, they’ve already cracked something bigger: trust.

  • Melle Windig
    Director
  • Hidde Alberts
    Director
  • Miguel Reyes
    Director
  • Jurgen de Smit
    Director
  • Arjen van der Plas
    Director
  • Miguel Reyes
    Writer
  • Hidde Alberts
    Writer
  • Jurgen de Smit
    Writer
  • Arjen van der Plas
    Writer
  • Melle Windig
    Writer
  • Sint Joost School of Art and Design
    Producer
  • Paul Moggré
    Story Assistence
  • Jasper Kuipers
    Story Assistence
  • Martijn Rook
    Story Assistence
  • Annemarijn Ingelaat
    Story Assistence
  • Sander Schreuders
    Story Assistence
  • Melle Windig
    Moving Storyboard
  • Jurgen de Smit
    Production set
  • Arjen van der Plas
    Production set
  • Miguel Reyes
    Production set
  • Melle Windig
    Production set
  • Arjen van der Plas
    Production puppets
  • Hidde Alberts
    Production puppets
  • Miguel Reyes
    Production props
  • Jurgen de Smit
    Production props
  • Melle Windig
    Production props
  • Paul Moggré
    Technical Support
  • Henk van Alphen
    Technical Support
  • Hidde Alberts
    Main animation
  • Melle Windig
    Main animation
  • Jurgen de Smit
    Additional Animation
  • Arjen van der Plas
    Additional Animation
  • Miguel Reyes
    Additional Animation
  • Miguel Reyes
    Sound design
  • Melle Windig
    Key Cast
    "Sam"
  • Hidde Alberts
    Key Cast
    "Bob"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Cel Maatjes
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 11 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 29, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    500 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Netherlands
  • Country of Filming:
    Netherlands
  • Language:
    Dutch
  • Shooting Format:
    Stopmotion 3840x2160
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Sint Joost School of Art & Design
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • ABIFF Animation Bucharest International Film Festival
    Bucharest
    Romania
    May 30, 2025
    Romanian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • AFAQ International Film Festival
    Münster
    Germany
    November 22, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Against the Flow IFF
    Sofia
    Bulgaria
    August 30, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Allentown Filmfestival
    Allentown
    United States
    April 13, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Anifest Rozafa
    Gjirokastra
    Albania
    September 23, 2025
    BEST ANIMATION AWARD
  • Almaty Anifest
    Almaty
    Kazakhstan
    September 26, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Animarte
    Rio de Janeiro
    Brazil
    October 20, 2025
    Official Selection
  • AnimAura
    Morelia
    Mexico
    September 20, 2025
    Honourable mention Award Nominee
  • Animation Screenings Film Festival Striped Tail
    Tsibli
    Georgia
    May 16, 2025
    Georgian Premiere
    BEST FAMILY ANIMATION AWARD
  • Animanie
    Pilsen
    Czechia
    November 20, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Animapix
    Madalena Pico Azores
    Portugal
    December 4, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Apedemak Sudan International Animation Filmfestival
    Cairo
    Egypt
    April 18, 2025
    African premiere
    Official Selection
  • Ars Independant Film Festival
    Katowice
    Poland
    October 11, 2025
    Polish
    Official Selection
  • Asterfest Film Festival
    Strumica
    North Macedonia
    August 2, 2025
    Macedonian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Bellecourt X Filmoramax
    Lyon
    France
    December 12, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Between the Blue and the Green Film Festival
    Worthing
    United Kingdom
    September 9, 2025
    BEST CHILDREN SHORT AWARD
  • Brighton Rocks Film Festival
    Brighton
    United Kingdom
    June 16, 2025
    Honourable Mention
  • Bradford International Film Festival
    Bradford
    United Kingdom
    Honourable mention Award Nominee
  • Caminhos Film Festival
    Coimbra
    Portugal
    November 15, 2025
    Portugal
    Official Selection
  • Chambal International Film Festival
    Kota
    India
    January 30, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Chania Film Festival
    Chania
    Greece
    October 15, 2025
    Award Nominee
  • Chaniatoon
    Chania
    Greece
    September 27, 2025
    Greek Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Chester Animation Festival
    Chester
    United Kingdom
    March 14, 2026
    AUDIENCE AWARD WINNER
  • Ciclos Shorts Fest
    Riosucio
    Colombia
    April 24, 2025
    South American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Cinemare
    Kiel
    Germany
    March 5, 2026
    AWARD WINNER AUDIENCE AWARD
  • Cinetoile
    Nabeul
    Tunisia
    July 26, 2025
    Tunesian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Cinewyre
    Fleetwood
    United Kingdom
    February 26, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Clones Film Festival
    Clones
    Ireland
    October 23, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Columbus International Film & Animation Festival
    Columbus
    United States
    April 25, 2026
    Award nominee
  • Corujinha FICBC
    Balneário Camboriú
    Brazil
    June 1, 2025
    Brazil Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Court mais Bon
    Le Puy en Velay
    France
    February 7, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Coventry Phoenix Film Festival
    Coventry
    United Kingdom
    April 18, 2026
    Award Nominee
  • Crossing the Screen - Eastbourne International Film Festival
    Eastborne
    United Kingdom
    May 2, 2026
    Official Selection
  • CutOut Fest
    Querétaro
    Mexico
    November 13, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Dokufest
    Prizren
    Kosovo
    August 7, 2026
    Kosovo premiére
    Official Selection
  • Earls Court International Film Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    November 14, 2025
    BEST ANIMATION AWARD
  • Fernando di Leo Short Film Festival
    San Ferdinando di Puglia
    Italy
    August 1, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Festival du film d'animation Pour la jeunesse
    Bourg en Bresse
    France
    October 19, 2025
    France Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Festival internacional de cine de Orizaba F.I.C.O.
    Oriziba
    Mexico
    October 16, 2025
    Honourable mention Award Nominee
  • Festival Internacional de Cine Animal y Ambiental
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    December 11, 2025
    BEST ANIMAL ANIMATION AWARD
  • Filmfest Dresden
    Dresden
    Germany
    April 14, 2026
    GOLDEN PONY AUDIENCE AWARD
  • Filmfest Düsseldorf
    Düsseldorf
    Germany
    November 5, 2025
    AUDIENCE AWARD < 15 minutes
  • Filmoramax X Bellecour
    Lyon
    France
    December 12, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Flamingo Film Festival
    Fort Lauderdale
    United States
    April 25, 2026
    BEST OVERALL AWARD and AUDIENCE AWARD
  • Framefest
    Tír an Fhia
    Ireland
    August 28, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Golden Baklava International Student Film Festival
    Gaziantep
    Türkiye
    April 27, 2026
    Turkish Premiere
    ANIMATION AWARD 1st PRIZE
  • Gozo International Film Festival
    Gozo
    Malta
    August 22, 2025
    Malta / Gozo Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Grenzland Filmtage
    Selb
    Germany
    April 9, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Harrogate Film Festival
    Harrogate
    United Kingdom
    March 8, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Heart of Gold International Short Film Festival
    Gympie
    Australia
    October 10, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Heathcote Film Festival
    Heathcote
    Australia
    August 29, 2025
    Australian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Imagination International Film Festival
    Bhilai
    India
    June 8, 2025
    Indian Premiere
    BEST STUDENT ANIMATION AWARD
  • I Corti dei Fabbri
    Fabbri
    Italy
    September 27, 2025
    Honourable mention Young director
  • I-CAN International Cartoon and Animation Festival of Norway
    Haugesund
    Norway
    October 24, 2025
    Scandinavian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • II Itaicine - Festival Internacional de Animação de Itaiópolis
    Santa Catharina
    Brazil
    September 25, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Independent Days International Film Festival
    Karlsruhe
    Germany
    April 18, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Indy Film Library
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    December 20, 2025
    BEST FILM & BEST EDITING AWARD
  • Interfilm Berlin Eject 'The Long Night of Weird Shorts'
    Berlin
    Germany
    November 7, 2025
    Official Selection
  • International Animation Festival AJAYU - Peru
    Puno
    Peru
    November 26, 2025
    Official Selection
  • JIFF (Jaipur International Film Festival)
    Delhi
    India
    February 13, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Kaboom Animation Festival
    Amsterdam and Utrecht
    Netherlands
    March 13, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Key West Florida Film Festival
    Key West
    United States
    November 12, 2025
    Award Nominee Best Student Filmmaker
  • Koo)rts Film Festival
    Enschede
    Netherlands
    September 26, 2025
    Dutch
    KO(O)RTS AUDIENCE AWARD
  • KO:SH FILM FEST
    Korca
    Albania
    September 9, 2025
    Albanian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Kuandu International Animation Festival
    Tapei
    Taiwan
    October 26, 2025
    Taiwan Premiere
    Festival's Choice
  • Language in Motion Film Festival (LiMFest)
    Baton Rouge
    United States
    April 11, 2025
    World Premiere
    BEST ANIMATION AWARD
  • Leiden International Film Festival
    Leiden
    Netherlands
    Official Selection
  • Lumina Film Festival
    Bangkok
    Thailand
    May 17, 2025
    Asian Premiere
    REEL LAUGHS AWARD
  • Lunatico! Short Film Contest
    Brianza
    Italy
    May 18, 2025
    Italian Premiere
    Finalist
  • Lusca Fantastic Film Fest
    San Juan
    Puerto Rico
    October 16, 2025
    Puerto Rico
    Official Selection
  • Lynchburg Film Festival
    Lynchburg
    United States
    October 24, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Lytham International Film Festival
    Lytham
    United Kingdom
    August 23, 2025
    UK Premiere
    BEST ANIMATION AWARD
  • Macau International Short Film Festival
    Macau
    China
    December 2, 2025
    Chinese Premiére
    Official Selection
  • Mangalia Youth Film Festival
    Biucharest
    Romania
    August 27, 2025
    BEST ANIMATION AWARD
  • Max Sir International Film Fest
    Lviv
    Ukraine
    September 12, 2025
    Ukranian Premiere
    BEST ANIMATION AWARD
  • Meetings of Young European Cinema
    Sofia
    Bulgaria
    June 19, 2025
    Bulgarian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Membrana Film Festival
    Manchester
    United Kingdom
    Official Selection
  • Mesa International Film Festival
    Mesa
    United States
    August 20, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Mirada Corta Short Film Festival
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    Semi Finalist
  • Mo & Friese Kurzfilmfestival Hamburg
    Hamburg
    Germany
    June 2, 2026
    Friese Lobende Erwähnung / Honourable Mention
  • Monstra Animation Festival
    Lisbon
    Portugal
    March 16, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Mosaic World Film Festival
    Rockford, Illinois
    United States
    September 12, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Navarra Film Festival
    Pamplona
    Spain
    September 8, 2025
    Spanish Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Nepal Cultural International Film festival
    Kathmandu
    Nepal
    January 30, 2026
    Nepal Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Napier Student Film Festival
    Edinburgh
    United Kingdom
    November 5, 2025
    Scotland
    BEST ANIMATION AWARD
  • Northern Lights Fantastic Film Festival
    Stokkseyri
    Iceland
    October 30, 2025
    Icelandic
    Official Selection
  • Oil Valley
    Oil City
    United States
    September 5, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Open Eyes Filmfest Marburg
    Marburg
    Germany
    July 26, 2025
    German Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Open World Animation Festival
    Allentown
    United States
    November 6, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Oxford Shorts
    Oxford
    United Kingdom
    April 9, 2026
    BEST ANIMATION AWARD
  • PIFF Pinerolo Film Festival
    Pinerolo
    Italy
    October 15, 2025
    Award nominee
  • Poulsbo Film Festival

    United States
    October 10, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Prime the Animation! New Talent Film Festival
    Valencia
    Spain
    October 21, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Red Cedar Film Festival
    Menomonie
    United States
    July 17, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Savoy Lumiere Film Festival
    Savoy
    United States
    May 2, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Scorpiusfest
    Boulder
    United States
    February 28, 2026
    AWARD WINNER
  • Star Film Festival
    Sisak
    Croatia
    August 21, 2025
    Croatian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Stream or Die Film Festival
    Pottstown
    United States
    May 14, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Student Cuts
    Ljutomer
    Slovenia
    May 9, 2025
    European Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Short Out
    Villa Litta
    Italy
    July 5, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Stop Cadru International Film Festival
    Curtea de Argeș
    Romania
    July 25, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Schlingel
    Chemnitz
    Germany
    October 10, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Sustain Film Festival
    Guildford
    United Kingdom
    August 29, 2025
    Award Nominee
  • Stuff MX Film Festival
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    August 2, 2025
    Mexico Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Skiptown Playhouse International Film Festival
    Los Angeles
    United States
    Official Selection
  • Starling Film Festival
    Wallasey
    United Kingdom
    November 3, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Stop Motion MX
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    November 6, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Tampa Animation Festival
    Tampa
    United States
    November 6, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Tangier Film Festival
    Tangier
    Morocco
    October 1, 2025
    Moroccan Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Tanzanite International Animation Festival
    Dar Es Salaam
    Tanzania
    November 27, 2025
    Tanzanian Premiére
    Official Selection
  • The Bay International Film Festival
    Moracombe
    United Kingdom
    Finalist
  • The Comedy Film Festival
    Austin
    United States
    May 8, 2026
    WINNER BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT
  • The Lake County Film Festival
    Grayslake
    United States
    Official Selection
  • The West Kortright Film Festival
    East Meredith
    United States
    September 19, 2025
    Best Animation Award
  • Too drunk to watch Punk Film Festival
    Berlin
    Germany
    October 22, 2025
    ANIMATION PUNK AWARD
  • Torino Underground Cinefest
    Turin
    Italy
    September 25, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Trame Indipendenti
    Pisa
    Italy
    June 18, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Trikfilm
    Ostrava
    September 24, 2025
    Czech Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Twelve Lions Film Festival

    United States
    September 25, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Twente Short
    Oldenzaal
    Netherlands
    November 15, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Unspooled Film & Animation Festival
    Menomonie
    United States
    May 10, 2025
    Official Selection
  • UrbanFest 360° 2025/ ORLANDO
    Orlando
    United States
    September 20, 2025
    BEST ANIMATION AWARD
  • Utah Film Festival
    Taylorsville
    United States
    January 7, 2026
    Award Nominee
  • Vermont Animation Festival
    Vermont
    United States
    April 18, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Visioni Verticali
    Potenza
    Italy
    December 12, 2025
    Official Selection
  • WAINI Vol. 6: International Student Animation Festival
    Yogyakarta
    Indonesia
    April 30, 2026
    Indonesian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Wicked Realm Film Festival
    Elmira New York
    United States
    October 4, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Wyoming International Film Festival
    Cheyenne
    United States
    July 8, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Yellowstone International Film Festival
    New Delhi
    India
    November 13, 2025
    Official Selection
  • YOUKI International Youth Media Festival
    Wels
    Austria
    November 18, 2025
    Austrian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Young Filmmakers Festival
    Brussels
    Belgium
    March 20, 2026
    Belgium
    Official Selection
  • ZEBRA international animation film festival
    Slovenj Gradec
    Slovenia
    July 26, 2025
    Slovenian Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Zinetxiki Zinemaldi
    Bilbao
    Spain
    December 13, 2025
    Spain Premiere
    Official Selection
  • ZINEZILLA X ANIMINSPO FESTIVAL
    Bristol
    United Kingdom
    September 7, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Zlin International Film Festival for Children and Youth
    Zlin
    Czechia
    May 30, 2026
    Official Selection International Short Animations
  • Zoom Zblizenia
    Jelenia Gora
    Poland
    February 2, 2026
    Official Selection
  • Zuidelijk Film Festival
    Tilburg
    Netherlands
    May 30, 2026
    Talent Award Nominee
Distribution Information
  • Kurzfilm Agentur Hamburg
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Melle Windig, Hidde Alberts, Miguel Reyes, Jurgen de Smit, Arjen van der Plas

Studio Brute Beesten is a Dutch creative animation collective formed specifically for the production of the hit short film Cell Buddies (Cel Maatjes). The team consists of Melle Windig, Hidde Alberts, Miguel Reyes, Jurgen de Smit, and Arjen van der Plas.

The collaboration was established during their 3rd-year minor in Stop-Motion Animation at the St. Joost School of Art & Design (Den Bosch, Netherlands). Characterized by its tactile hand made aesthetic, meticulous craftsmanship, and universal humour, this unique collaborative project became an unexpected global phenomenon, capturing over 150 international festival selections and winning over 20 awards worldwide

Following this success, all members are graduating from their respective bachelor studies in 2026, embarking on their professional careers.

Melle Windig (b. 2004) – Co-Director & Animator
Melle Windig is a Dutch animator and director graduating with a Bachelor in Illustrated and Animated Storytelling from the St. Joost School of Art & Design in 2026. Driven by a passion for the tactile, physical materiality of traditional stop motion, Melle thrives on the intense discipline of the craft. He is willingly spending 13 hours to perfect just 5 seconds of footage. For Melle, animation is about utilizing craftsmanship and character driven narration to evoke genuine empathy and human connection. Melle will continue to hone his skills as he enters the Master of Animation program at St. Joost for the 2026–2027 academic year.

Hidde Alberts (b. 2003) – Co-Director & Animator
Hidde Alberts is an animation enthusiast graduating in Multimedia Design from the HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht in 2026. Adaptable across 2D, 3D, and stop-motion, Hidde served as a co-director and key animator, dedicated to achieving the smoothest motion possible frequently animating at a full 24 frames per second. He actively seeks out complex camera movements and intricate choreography, firmly believing that the more challenging a shot is, the more rewarding it becomes to bring to life.

Miguel Reyes (b. 2001) – Co-Director & Illustrator
Miguel Reyes is a Spanish-Dutch animator and illustrator graduating with a Bachelor in Illustrated and Animated Storytelling from the St. Joost School of Art & Design in 2026. Specializing in highly expressive, simplistic, and straight-to-the-point 2D animation, Miguel brought his sharp comedic timing and co-directorial vision to Cell Buddies. He infuses his work with a distinct sense of silliness and goofy humor, believing that if a piece can make someone smile or laugh, the project is a success.

Jurgen de Smit (b. 2001) – Co-Director & Set Design
Jurgen de Smit is a Bachelor of Design student graduating from the St. Joost School of Art & Design in 2026. Passionate about exploring a wide range of artistic disciplines and techniques, he found his creative stride within the tangible world of stop motion animation. As a co-director for Cell Buddies, his organic role centered on sharpening the comedic story beats and constructing the physical miniature sets, firmly believing that the best artwork emerges from a place of genuine fun and play.

Arjen van der Plas (b. 1998) – Co-Director & Character Design
Arjen van der Plas is a Design student graduating from the HKU University of the Arts Utrecht in 2026. He specializes in bringing a sense of wonder to the everyday and injecting playful flavor into serious or mundane topics. As a co-director and key visual creator for Cell Buddies, Arjen focused heavily on character design and building the miniature sets, helping to turn a classic prison break scenario into a surprising, imaginative visual experience.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

In a world that often feels dark and rigid, Cell Buddies is a playful story about two misfits who discover that freedom isn’t just about breaking out, but breaking open. Sam, the grumpy raccoon, and Bob, the manatee with a heart too big for his cell, embody the messy magic of opposites: grit meets goof, schemer meets saint, and irritation melts into unexpected kinship.Stop-motion is the perfect medium for this tale. It’s raw, tactile, and alive with imperfection much like our oddball duo. Every frame was sculpted by hand, a labor of love (and caffeine) by our crew of five art school students. We bent wire, painted wood, and rigged manatees in the dark, chasing that alchemy where chaos becomes art.

This same scrappy spirit fueled our festivaljourney. We began our festival circuit with a budget of exactly €0, hunting for every free entry opportunity to give Sam and Bob a voice. It wasn't until five months in, seeing the film's early resonance, that a modest €200 contribution from our families allowed us to push further. That small investment transformed a student project into a global ambassador, eventually reaching over 150 selections across six continents.

The process mirrored the story itself: a reminder that connection isn’t found in polished edges, but in the glue, grit, and glitter of collaboration. Sam and Bob’s jailbreak is a circus of clumsy escapes and slapstick mishaps, but at its core, this film is about the walls we don’t see. Trust doesn’t come easy to a raccoon who sees the world as a lock to pick, or a manatee too gentle to realize he’s already free. Together, they’re a reminder that friendship isn’t something you plan; it’s something that happens, often in the least expected places.

The Cell Buddies Crew