SEARCHER II: THE LIONESS

Logline:

Jax hunts smugglers of ISIS-stolen antiquities in Mosul (Iraq) and the black markets of London, uncovering a dangerous network that connects art, terrorism, and global conflict.

Opening Scene:

Taghazout, Morocco. At "Killer Point," a notorious surf spot, 15-foot waves crash against the shore. While other surfers hesitate, Jax enters the water with only swim fins. She battles through waves choked with ocean plastic—a metaphor for the complicated, polluted world of international crime she navigates.

More About the Film:

A makeshift ambulance screeches to a refugee health clinic in Basra, Iraq. A bullet-riddled "smuggler" is rushed to the operating table. In a moment that will change everything, Jax discovers a 2.5-inch figurine while preparing the cadaver.

The figurine becomes her gateway into a shadowy world of stolen antiquities. An expert reveals its connection to the 5,000-year-old "Guennol Lioness," sold at Sotheby's in 2007—and whispers of a legendary lost twin. Within a day, this expert is dead, transforming Jax's investigation from curious to critical.

Her journey takes her through the decimated landscapes of Mosul and the Nineveh Plains, where she learns firsthand about those who resisted ISIS's brutal takeover. She visits the destroyed tomb of Jonah, each site revealing layers of human resilience and destruction.

In London, she confronts the world's largest black market for looted antiquities. Professor Kingsfield unveils a crucial piece of the puzzle: an anonymous bidder purchased the Lioness for a record $57 Million in 2007. As Jax searches for the owner, the lines between hunter and hunted blur dangerously.

The real mystery isn't just about a stolen artifact—it's about the stories of survival, the global networks that profit from human suffering, and one woman's relentless pursuit of truth.

Social Impact Entertainment:

SEARCHER exposes critical global issues:

- Oil smuggling and economic extortion

- Displacement of vulnerable populations

- The ongoing Yazidi genocide

- The dark economy of antiquities trafficking

- Environmental destruction and its human cost

Did You Know?

Artifacts aren't just objects—they're repositories of human history, often caught in the crossfire of global conflicts.