In the shadow of tyranny, 21 souls stood unshaken—their faith a beacon against the darkness of terror. “The 21” is a haunting, animated tribute to the Coptic Christian martyrs brutally executed by ISIS on a Libyan beach in 2015, a story of courage that echoes beyond the grave. Crafted in the timeless style of Coptic iconography, this short film—born from the hands of over 70 artists across 24 countries—unfolds with chilling beauty, capturing the final days of 20 Egyptian Copts and one steadfast Ghanaian, Matthew, who chose their God over freedom. From the underground prison where they defied bribes and torture to the trembling earth that rattled their captors’ resolve, their journey is one of unyielding spirit. As ISIS filmed their slaughter, strange figures—sword-wielding, horse-mounted—appeared among them, a divine mystery that turned the executioners’ hearts to fear. With church chants swelling and prayers piercing the silence, their last words—“Lord, have mercy,” “Jesus, forgive them”—ring out as a testament to love amidst hate. Released on February 14, 2025, this 10-minute masterpiece, subtitled in five languages, demands to be seen. Watch it. Feel it. Honor them.
Revelation 20:4 (ESV)
“Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also, I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.”
A short film honoring the 21 Coptic martyrs killed by ISIS in Libya in 2015. The film is animated in the style of Coptic iconography and was produced in collaboration with the global Coptic community and a team of more than 70 artists from more than 24 countries. Subtitles are available in Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian and Farsi – just select your language in the Closed Caption (CC) setting at the bottom right corner of the film!
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