Tod Polson’s ‘The 21’ Is A Hauntingly Powerful Film About An Infamous Event

Oscar short-lister The 21, a hauntingly powerful take on an infamous ISIS beheading video, recently debuted online.

In 2015, ISIS released a brutal video showing the execution of 21 Coptic men on a Libyan beach. The 21 goes beyond the headlines, using neo-Coptic iconography and seamlessly blending hand-drawn animation with archival images, raw footage, and intimate conversations with the victims’ loved ones. More than a retelling of their tragic fate, the film reconstructs their journey — from abduction to imprisonment — offering a deeper, more accurate portrayal of the events leading up to their execution.

Now revered as martyrs for their unshaken faith, these men’s stories are honored in a visually striking and profoundly moving film about resilience, conviction, and the triumph of spirit over brutality.

Directed by Tod Polson (El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, The Secret of Kells), The 21 was animated by more than 70 artists from over 24 countries. A Calarts grad with both a BFA and MFA, Polson is a Student Academy Award winner for his film Al Tudi Tuhak. His career includes apprenticeships under animation legends Chuck Jones and Maurice Noble, as well as contributions to El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera and The Secret of Kells. Other works include directing the short film The Pumpkin of Nyefar and authoring The Noble Approach: Maurice Noble and the Zen of Animation Design, a key text on layout and background design.