Overview

Land of Martyrdom is a cinematic proof-of-concept short, filmed on location in the Himalayas, created to capture the vision, tone, and scope of the feature-length film now in development.

In the remote Himalayan mountains, Mani’s daughter is gravely ill, and with no access to medical care, his hope fades. Despite consulting the village witch doctor, who offers no solutions, Mani is advised to trust in the gods. Meanwhile, Tyler and his friends embark on a dangerous journey across the mountains to smuggle Bibles into isolated villages. Facing challenges from harsh terrain and police pursuit, they eventually meet Mani and offer antibiotics to help his daughter. As they share the message of Jesus, Mani has a life-changing vision. However, the police catch up with the group, and Ryker is arrested, ending with him in custody. While his friends escape to safety, Ryker is left in handcuffs in a shipping container and one of the Bibles he illegally smuggled is placed in front of him.

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Why We’re Making Land of Martyrdom

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Over 3.4 billion people in the world today have never heard the name of Jesus. Entire nations remain closed to the gospel—places where the Bible is banned, churches are underground, and believers face persecution for their faith.

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This isn’t because the Church lacks passion—it’s because most people simply don’t know this reality exists. Many assume missions are a thing of the past, or that only a few remote tribes remain unreached. But the truth is, the harvest is still plentiful—and the workers are still few.

We're telling the stories of modern-day missionaries who risk everything to bring the gospel to those who’ve never heard it. Our goal is to wake up the Church to the unfinished work of the Great Commission---and inspire boldness, compassion, and a willingness to go, whatever the cost. Because the gospel is for every nation, every people group, every soul. And we believe some journeys are worth dying for.

Creator Statement:

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For most of my life, I was immersed in the arts, studying film and acting at a conservatory in New Zealand. Later, I spent a decade in ministry, where I took on pastoral roles, managed food banks, and organized large-scale outreach events for the city. Along the way, I learned that 3.4 billion people around the world are considered “unreached,” meaning they’ve never heard the gospel message.

Last year, I ventured into the Himalayas, trekking for days to reach some of the world’s most remote villages. The journey was daunting—12 hours a day of hiking the highest peaks with a 40-pound pack, often without knowing where I’d sleep or what I’d eat. And all while smuggling Bibles into a closed nation. It’s been an extraordinary privilege to bring a message of hope to the incredible people in the mountains.

The core elements of my script capture real events from our journey. This story needs to be shared with the world. Having seen the mountains firsthand, I’m now ready to tell it. Welcome to the Himalayas. Come experience the risk and the journey to the unreached.

- Rich Munton