Leaving the Life - Tim Matsui in conversation with Mike Davis

Learn how Seattle-based filmmaker and photojournalist Tim Matsui found an international story in his own backyard and with seed capital from the Alexia Foundation, brought together a team of nonprofits, foundations and producers to support his project, "Leaving the Life."

Along with photojournalism experience in wires, agencies, magazines, and long-term projects, Tim Matsui has nearly 15 years' experience reporting on trauma and victimization, several years founding and running a non profit emphasizing community engagement, and has a collaborative, relational style for intimate visual storytelling. He won the inaugural Women's Initiative Photography Grant from the Alexia Foundation for his project Leaving the Life, a look at grassroots efforts to address domestic minor sex trafficking. Working with MediaStorm, Matsui's video from this grant is now a feature length documentary film titled The Long Night, currently on the market for distribution.