WATCH THE TRAILER
ABOUT THE film
support the project
Poster with golden text 'UNMASKED' and the phrase 'History will not be silenced' alongside a person holding a large tribal mask in front of their face.Person holding a large, dark tribal mask in front of their face against a black background with gold text reading 'UNMASKED' and the tagline 'History will not be silenced.'
UNMUTE & RESTART

PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE.

THE
HISTORY
OF
UNMASKED

Carved wooden tribal mask with exaggerated facial features and curved horn-like decorations on top.
Film crew preparing to shoot an interview in a room decorated with wooden masks and sculptures, with a man seated and a film slate held in front of his face.

SUMMER 2024

The Story Begins

While observing the Lerach's collection of pre-modern African art, we were deeply moved to tell a story. We set out to create a story connecting this art to our shared human ancestry.

After months of careful planning, production begins. We started by capturing riveting interviews and stunning shots of the art collection. The Lerachs initiated contact with the Liberian government to open the door for returning a rare Toma mask to it's origin.

Close-up of a carved wooden relief depicting six human figures with elaborate hairstyles, three standing below and three engaged in various activities above, against a textured reddish background.

The first two days of production included interviews of Bill & Michelle Lerach and a world-renowned art expert, Joris Visser. Shots of the Lerach's immense art collection were also captured in stunning detail.

Elderly man wearing glasses and a blue sweater seated on a wooden chair in a room filled with tribal sculptures and artifacts, with a camera monitor showing his blurred image in the foreground.
Interior view of an immense private art collection with wooden columns, African tribal sculptures on pedestals, and a mural at the far end.
Sunlit corridor with arched ceiling displaying tribal masks, wooden sculptures, and green potted plants.
Man operating a professional video camera on a wheeled dolly in a room filled with tribal wooden sculptures and art pieces.
Film crew recording a woman with curly blonde hair seated in a library filled with bookshelves while a crew member takes notes.

The creative minds behind Unmasked were thrilled to see a powerful story emerge.

January 2025

history unfolds

As the Trump administration moved to silence 'unpatriotic' history, exhibits on injustice and civil rights were stripped from the Smithsonian and National Parks. Witnessing this cultural erasure, we connected with Tony—a passionate artist dedicating his work to preserving the truth.

Exhibit at a Black Power museum featuring historical photos, memorabilia, and text panels about African American activism and change. At the bottom is a news headline that reads "Artifacts removed from African History museum after Trump order".
Two museum visitors observing a painting while a film crew records and holds a boom microphone.

With a determination to document history, we stepped into the museum.

Person using a crowbar to remove or pry a historic sign mounted on a brick wall at a National Park.
Cartoon of man resembling Donald Trump raising a large hammer to smash a small building labeled 'MUSEUMS'.
Man in a black t-shirt and cap with tattoos on both arms leaning on a reflective surface with a blurred sculpture in the foreground.

Tony Concep, a passionate artist, looks to unmask the truth through his work.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The story is alive and unfolding. Your support will launch our crew to Africa, allowing us to document the mask’s emotional return and uncover its true origins. Simultaneously, we are filming on the front lines in the USA as Tony and the Lerachs fight back against cultural erasure.

To bridge the gap between a captured story and a released film, we need you. Your contributions will fund the world-class post-production team—editors, composers, and colorists—essential to weaving these threads into a cinematic reality.

Close-up of a detailed stone sculpture of a person's face with carved lips, eyes, and braided hair accessories.
Person wearing a cap points at a framed vintage map of Africa on a wall.
WE NEED YOUR HELP

the story must be told

support the project
Man wearing a black New York Yankees cap and colorful pants sitting while touching a large pre-modern Toma mask with a horned face.

ABOUT THE CREATORS

Nautilus Studios is a full-service creative studio that operates at the forefront of modern production. We make films that matter.

Our documentary films are built on a simple belief: stories have the power to bridge divides and remind us of our shared humanity. We approach every project with intention, empathy, and a dedication to uncovering the connective threads that shape the human experience. Our work has been honored around the world, including international awards for Best Documentary Feature.

OUR WORK

IN ASSOCIATION WITH
FOLLOW THE PROJECT
Back to top