On 28 January, Coptic Orphans in Cairo hosted a screening of The 21, a short animated film honoring the 21 Coptic Martyrs, which was also shortlisted for the Oscars. On 15 February, 2015, ISIS militants brutally executed 21 Coptic Christian prisoners on a beach in Libya. On the 10th anniversary of their martyrdom, “The 21” honors the men who gave their lives rather than deny their Christian faith. The screening was attended by members of the Coptic community, filmmakers, and supporters who gathered to commemorate the lives of the victims and reflect on their enduring legacy in Egyptian collective memory. During the event, producers shared that six years ago, while in Egypt for the cathedral’s opening, they visited Garbage City and came across a picture of the 21 martyrs. Accordingly, the visit sparked the idea of creating a film to share their story. The 13-minute short animated film was made by MORE Productions in collaboration with Coptic artists. American Actor Jonathan Roumie, best known for his portrayal of Jesus in the hit series “The Chosen (2017),” served as the film’s executive producer. The film’s soundtrack, created by Egyptian instrumentalist duo…
