Marilee Combs

Documentary Filmmaker & Photographer

Documentary Film

North Carolina leads the country in sweet potato production, but a new pest threatens its most widely grown variety.

Produced for PBS North Carolina, this documentary follows researchers at NC State, local farmers, and students working to develop more resilient crops.

Producer, Camera, Editor — Marilee Combs
Second Camera, Script — McKenzie Bulris

Produced in partnership with PBS North Carolina / Sci NC

Protecting North Carolina’s Sweet Potato Crop

A Ukrainian mother and refugee rebuilds her life in North Carolina after being displaced by war.

Told through observational footage, this film follows her as she adjusts to a new environment while continuing her work in medical research—capturing the quiet, in-between moments of transition, resilience, and identity.

Winner — 1st Place, Hearst Journalism Awards (Multimedia Narrative)

A Child of Ukraine

Photo - Ricky Skaggs, Live at The Pyrle

Documentary Selects

Chef Devon Jordan found a second chance through Farming Hope, a nonprofit creating job opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Working with reclaimed produce, he helps prepare meals that would otherwise go to waste, redirecting food from landfills to people facing food insecurity.

3rd Place — Hearst National Championship (Multimedia)