Originally Streamed on YouTube Live Dec 6, 2024. Audio edited by Kiara Horowitz.

Produced by a team of 70+ artists from more than 24 countries, in collaboration with the global Coptic community, "The 21" is up for an Oscar nomination in 2025

Director Tod Polson made this statement:

The 2015 beheading of 21 Coptic Christians by ISISsent shockwaves across the globe and left a deep,lasting impact on me personally. The martyrs’steadfast faith in the face of overwhelming terrorwas, and continues to be, both humbling and deeplyinspiring. When the opportunity arose to tell theirstory, I embraced it wholeheartedly.The creation of the film has been an incrediblejourney. The story evolved slowly, shaped byinterviews with Coptic Christians, former ISISmembers, and journalists embedded with theLibyan army. Spending time with the families ofthe martyrs allowed me to better understand whothese men were, further deepening my admirationfor their courage and conviction.

The visual style of The 21 is rooted in traditionaliconography. Artists from Egypt, Syria, Ukraine,and the United States contributed their expertise,not only helping shape the aesthetic of the film butalso influencing my own approach to art. Animationartists from around theworld lent their talents, each adding somethingpersonal to the project.My deepest hope is that The 21 serves as a tribute tothe martyrs and their families. In a world that seemsmore than ever in need of such powerful examplesof faith and resilience, I believe their story is morevital than ever.

THE21FILM.COM

Interviewer Scott Wiser is currently supervising at Steamroller Studios (supervising Lego Fortnite and animating on Spice Frontier) and has written and directed for Spacestation Animation. He is the creator of 15 deeply meaningful feature film pitches and counting. 3 of these are Kickstarted Books and one is a short film. Any producers or executives interested in collaborating or funding on Scott Wiser's projects can peruse these pitches through the application at:

www.scottwiser.com/collaborate