Sej Saraiya (b. 1985) is interdisciplinary visual artist, an acclaimed photographer and filmmaker, recognized for her ethnographic and fine art photography that documents Indigenous cultures around the globe. With an MFA in Screenwriting from the University of Southern California, earned in 2009, Sej has embarked on immersive photographic journeys through the interiors of Asia and the Americas, creating poignant portraits that serve as windows into remote communities and their intertwined relationships with the environment. Her photographic work has taken her to some of the most remote corners of the world, where she has encountered invaluable treasures—from the tattooed headhunters of hidden India to the wisdom of medicine women in British Columbia, and from the shamans of the Venezuelan Amazonas to globally revered leaders and humanitarians such as Their Holinesses the Dalai Lama and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Sej’s mission centers on preserving the rich tapestry of global cultures and landscapes.

A dedicated leader in her field, Sej actively serves on the board of the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP-LA), the Garifuna Indigenous Film Festival (GIIFF, now in its 13th year), and contributes to the Topanga Film Festival (TFF, now in its 18th season).

She is also a Professional Member of the American Photographic Artists (APA) and a lead facilitator at the BRIDGE photography mentorship program. In 2024, Sej was the Founding Director of the World Culture Film Festival for the Art of Living Foundation. She actively engages in thought leadership through speaking engagements, workshops, and panel discussions at universities, museums, and film festivals. Sej's work has garnered attention in prestigious publications, including ELLE, LA YOGA, DEADLINE, Luxury Lifestyle Magazine, and USA Today, and has been exhibited at art galleries, museums, and prominent venues like John Wayne Airport, with her photographs adorning the walls of private collectors around the world.

Sej's short fiction film, THE CURIOUS WOODS (2021), which highlights the beauty and necessity of nature in human existence, has screened at numerous film festivals, collecting over 30 awards, including Best Environmental Film and Best Director. Another short, THE LANGUAGE THEY SPOKE (2019), reflects on the often-overlooked value of silence in a busy world, winning accolades including Best Experimental Film. Currently, Sej is co-directing FROM HEAD TO HEART, a documentary that explores the humble beginnings of the Art of Living Foundation and the International Association for Human Values, set for release in 2025. In addition, she is in post-production on her feature documentary, THE DANCE OF FREEDOM (2026), which honors a tribe of women she captured through her lens five years prior and deeply admires.

Now residing in Topanga, California, Sej Saraiya continues to blend visual storytelling through photography and film, passionately advocating for the preservation of the world’s diverse cultures and ecosystems.

“When I first encountered [Sej’s] photos, I was absolutely stunned. Her photos have that unique storytelling aspect that is extremely rare to find in a photographer. These photos are not just the beauty of light or composition, of which she is an expert, but they go deeper and speak to an issue and a story of people that is begging to be heard; something that I’ve never seen in professional photography.”

— ADAM SCHOMER, Award-winning Director, Producer of the documentaries HEAL and WOMEN OF THE WHITE BUFFALO