Sam & Julia Nominated at the 17th Kecskemét Animation Film Festival

Sam & Julia – The Mouse Mansion is a successful Dutch book series, created by Karina Schaapman. Karina built the Mouse Mansion as the backdrop for her books about Sam & Julia. It is entirely made out of cardboard boxes, waste materials and vintage fabrics.

The Sam & Julia brand inspires families around the world to be creative, welcoming and kind. To date, 23 books featuring Sam and Julia have been published. Over 1 million books have been sold internationally since 2011, in 27 languages.

A unique range of plush and arts & crafts products has been developed to help fans build their own mouse mansions. Starting in 2024, the brand-new animated series based on the books launches internationally on TV and streaming platforms.

Selected from over 400 entries submitted from 23 countries, the episode Sam & Julia: The Story Without an End (screening May 27 – June 1, 2025) stands proudly alongside Europe’s most celebrated animated works. The festival takes place from May 27 to June 1, 2025 in Kecskemét, Hungary.

Léon-Gilbert Hus, Producer, said:

After bringing Sam & Julia to life on screen, seeing the series recognised by such a respected international festival is incredibly rewarding. It’s a joy to witness these beloved mice continue their journey — from cardboard sets to global screens — capturing hearts wherever they go.

This nomination reflects the continued success of the handcrafted universe created by Karina Schaapman, and brought to screen by Cielo Films, Caribara, and SuperswissRed, with the participation of France Télévisions, ZDF, and AVROTROS.