Talent Guide

Marissa Lila Kongao

  • Discipline:Director
  • Program Year:Documentary Story Lab 2026

Bio

Marissa Lila Kongao (they/them) is a documentarian and spirit worker raised in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand. As a director and producer for film and television, their work centers marginalized perspectives who use storytelling to heal. Their work includes directing Fire Tender (2023), editing Transmormon (Artistic Vision Award, Big Sky 2014) and producing Scavenger (Big Sky 2013) short documentaries. Kongao also directed and produced a Regional Emmy-winning documentary series in Utah.

Current Project

We Arrive With Fire | Ne-kah Nuue’m Mehl Mech

Logline

Since time immemorial, Yurok people have placed fire on the land to maintain a balanced ecosystem. In the past century, settlers banned fire and the environment and people have suffered. Now, Yurok people are returning fire medicine to heal the land.