How a British filmmaker fell for China, saw hope for more China-Europe collaboration

Kim Longinotto, a British documentary director and chairperson of the jury for the documentary unit of the Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF), shares how her first visit to China left a lasting impression with CGTN's Mi Sutong at the SIFF.

Longinotto was captivated by the cinematic grandeur of the opening ceremony and even more so by the warmth of the people and the energy of a fast-developing country. Expressing that she has "fallen in love with China," she believes storytelling can bridge cultures and offer new ways for China and Europe to connect, collaborate and understand each other in an increasingly complex world. If she were to make a film in China, she says, it would be about everyday people—intimate, human stories that make audiences feel close to someone they've never met.