The 21 research process

Since releasing the film just over a month ago, we have received a number of questions regarding how the film’s story was researched and developed. As explained in greater detail in this article, our director did extensive research in developing the film and found two interviews with former ISIS members, one of which is the account you referenced. That was his primary source of information, though there were other reports with similar information. 

Screenshot from exclusive video report by journalist imbedded in Libya

It was impossible to verify in the traditional journalistic sense that the supernatural occurrences took place, but we did the best we could with the information we found and present it in the film as "this is the understanding of those most closely connected to the events".

Director Tod Polson with iconographer Edmon Kamel in Cairo, 2019

Research photo taken by Tod Polson during trip to Egypt, 2019