The MiG-21 Project(2025)

The MiG-21 Project Synopsis

The 25-minute long documentary details the entirety of the artistic process from Ralph Ziman’s inspiration for the project and acquisition of the MiG-21, to the international collaboration to create the beadwork and assemble the art piece, leading up to the project’s unveiling at The Museum of Flight. Also covered in the film is background on the MiG-21, including details about the plane used (decommissioned tail number 8971) and how MiGs’ presence in the Angolan Civil War ultimately hastened the end of white rule in South Africa. See historical footage and personal interviews, including the Polish pilot who flew tail number 8971 in the 1980s, a South African Border War pilot and the team of artists and craftspeople in Southern Africa and the United States who took on the huge task of covering the aircraft in tens of millions of glass beads.

The MiG-21 Project (2025) is a documentary film directed by Paul Duran-Lemos, released on June 19, 2025 with a runtime of 25m. It stars Ralph Ziman and Nick Bonamy. Viewers rate it 10.0 out of 10 across 1 ratings.