The Artifact, an action-packed adventure movie, is set to hit cinemas nationwide from 21 March 2025! This highly anticipated adventure-laden movie, directed by one of Nollywood’s leading visionary greats, Tolu Awobiyi (well known as LordTanner) promises to take audiences on a gripping, and thrilling jaw-dropping adventure across Nigeria.
The Artifact follows the story of four fearless young chart-busting actors as they embark on a perilous expedition to unearth three precious stones and uncover the secrets of a mysterious artifact. Guided by cryptic clues, hidden dangers, shocking cloak-and-dagger criminals, this film will keep you on the edge of your seats.
The film boasts an array of all-star cast, which include Kunle Remi, Gabriel Afolayan, Bimbo Manuel, Shola Fosudo, Okey Uzoeshi and Wendy Lawal. It also introduces four new and young upcoming actors played by Adeoluwa Akintoba, Miracle Inyanda, Ovy Godwin, and Sharon Rotimi as they all brave the cross-country rollercoaster ride around Nigeria in the production of this film
The making of The Artifact took the team of 80 filmmakers and production staff led by LordTanner through seven states across Nigeria and filming several scenes at three resplendent waterfalls. Some of these kaleidoscopic scenes were shot on location at Erin Ijesa in Ilesa, Ngwo Waterfalls in Enugu, and Assop Falls in Jos. This film does not take the usual mystical African genre but explores a different genre, creating a first of its kind, an action-adventure film in Nollywood that promises to give joy to everyone young and young at heart.
In the words of the director, Tolu LordTanner: ‘I wondered what an African Indiana Jones film series would look like. What would a story that sat in the world of African museums, ancient artifacts, stolen monuments and valuable art feel like on screen? As a child, I read the Famous Fives, the Secret Sevens and wanted to tell African stories with African kids in them. Becoming a filmmaker, this was one genre I really wanted to explore, so making the Artifact is a childhood dream come true.’
The film was first screened at the Afriff in November 2024 and it was met with such rave reaction from the audience who couldn’t seem to get enough of it. LordTanner is quoted as saying ‘I have never heard an audience scream my name that loudly since I started making films’, the writer/producer/director says this is the first of a series of film titled The Artifact series which is billed to travel around Africa in a series of planned sequels with East and Central African states of Tanzania and Rwanda, most likely the next port of call.
The premiere is proudly supported by Fidelity Bank and Ritefoods and slated for the 15th of March 2025, while its official release in cinemas across Nigeria is slated for the 21st of March 2025. Audiences are guaranteed an exciting action-adventure rollercoaster treat that will ensure that this will be a fan-favorite film to be treasured as a breath of fresh air in Nollywood for years to come.
