Marissa Lila Kongao

Marissa Lila Kongao (they/them) is a documentarian and psychedelic healer who was 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 and has included work in Thai and English. Their work includes: FIRE TENDER (2023) nominated for Best Short Doc at American Indian Film Festival, TRANSMORMON, which has garnered over 6 million online views and follows a Japanese-American trans woman and her devout Mormon parents (Artistic Vision award at the 2014 Big Sky Film Festival); DEEP SOUTH CANCER FIGHTERS focuses on advocates in rural Alabama who work to end racial health disparities in their community (Sidewalk Film Festival); and SCAVENGER, filmed in Marissa’s home country of Thailand, capturing the insights of a trash collector and his attempt to lift his family out of poverty (MountainFilm in Telluride). Marissa directed and produced episodes for the Regional Emmy-winning documentary series GENERATIONS PROJECT (BYU-TV, ABC, and PBS). Additionally, they have worked in educational media, directing and producing documentary content to create more equity for students inclusive of race, class, language, sexual orientation, and/or disability.