On her first visit to China and Asia, Carla Gutiérrez arrived at the SIFF Women's Forum as a documentary jury member and instantly fell in love with the city's energy – and food. She talked about the powerful moment when her film was shown to Chinese audiences, particularly young women, who could relate to the character Frida – proof that emotions can transcend borders. She also discussed a recent Chinese documentary that moved her, Violet Feng's Hidden Letters, and considered why the most culture-specific stories can often create the strongest universal connection.