New York, NY (March 16, 2026) – Director Fiona Young obtained exclusive access to an American family of Shen Yun artists, during training and on tour, across the globe. Her film, UNBROKEN: The Untold Story of Shen Yun is the first ever documentary about the global phenomenon Shen Yun Performing Arts, renowned for the spectacle of breathtaking choreography, vibrant costumes, and grand stages. 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of Shen Yun’s founding in 2006 by a small group of artists at a time when their faith was being horribly persecuted across China and wished to revive their culture outside the political restraints of China today. From the beginning, the Chinese regime has tried to sabotage Shen Yun. Then in 2022, this campaign escalated dramatically as the world-renowned dance company became the target of an international campaign of pressure and propaganda.
UNBROKEN: The Untold Story of Shen Yun, produced by Sincere Pictures, will initially be released to watch free, worldwide by Gan Jing World streaming platform GJW+ and NTD on NTD.com and the NTD YouTube Channel on March 24, 2026, through April 12, the end of Shen Yun’s New York City engagement, in celebration of Shen Yun’s 20th Anniversary, announced Steve Lance, Executive Producer, Sincere Pictures. The documentary will then also be released on the major streaming/VOD platforms in Spring 2026 by a distributor, with details to be announced at a later date.
“We felt strongly that this story belongs to the public. When art, freedom, and truth are being challenged, the most important thing you can do is make sure people can see the full picture," said Lance.
On the evening of March 24, there will be a Red-Carpet screening for the NY Premiere of the UNBROKEN: The Untold Story of Shen Yun, in celebration of the launch of 20th Anniversary season of Shen Yun. Performers and principals from Shen Yun will be in attendance, along with the filmmakers, and invited guests, followed by a panel with the cast moderated by Mr. Steve Lance, Investigator and Executive Producer of the documentary. Mr. Leeshai Lemish, Emcee, Shen Yun Performing Arts, Mr. Piotr Huang, Shen Yun principal dancer, teacher, Ms. Rachel Chen, Shen Yun Orchestra violist, Ms. Angela Lin, Shen Yun dancer, Ms. Alison Chen, former Shen Yun dancer, and Mr. Levi Browde, Father of two Shen Yun Dancers. On March 24, the Red-Carpet Arrivals, the after-screening panel, and the Q&A will be livestreamed on NTD Television.
“Twenty years ago, Shen Yun was started by a small group of volunteers who shared a common vision—to revive the beauty and spiritual depth of traditional Chinese culture and expose the tyranny of the CCP to the world. Seeing that vision flourish on the world’s greatest stages is deeply moving. This documentary captures not only the artistry, but also the perseverance that made it possible.” Ms. Ying Chen, Vice President, Shen Yun Performing Arts.
UNBROKEN: The Untold Story of Shen Yun follows the world-renowned classical Chinese dance company Shen Yun Performing Arts as it rises to global acclaim while facing intimidation and threats of violence. Through the eyes of two brothers and their fellow performers, the film traces an unlikely journey—from ordinary American childhoods to the world’s most prestigious stages—where rigorous artistic training and spiritual conviction shape both their craft and their character.
As Shen Yun tours internationally, the company becomes the target of escalating smear campaigns, threats, and documented interference linked to the Chinese Communist Party. Blending personal storytelling with investigative reporting, UNBROKEN reveals what happens when art, faith, and freedom defies authoritarian power—and how resilience, community, and cultural revival endure in the face of intimidation.
The story of Shen Yun is perhaps the clearest and most detailed documented case of Beijing trying to take down an American institution. Shen Yun's lived experience and resilience is a warning for all American citizens and lawmakers of what could happen to any individual or group in America. UNBROKEN: The Untold Story of Shen Yun explores how a foreign superpower weaponized American media and got away with it. It shows that the CCP does not just manipulate narratives inside China. It does so in New York, D.C., and any U.S. city they target. Americans are ever more concerned about China’s threats reaching Americans on American soil.
“What surprised us most was how complex and coordinated the pressure appeared to be. Rather than speculate, the documentary carefully lays out the facts and lets viewers see the pattern unfold,” says Lance.
UNBROKEN: The Untold Story of Shen Yun is a human story about perseverance, resilience, and triumph. The performers wanted to revive a culture almost destroyed and expose the tyranny of the CCP, but do so in the safety of Western democracies. Instead, they found themselves under pressure, facing propaganda, and being targeted for silence even in the U.S. It is a story of young performers who risk everything to preserve truth, faith, and tradition—and in doing so, reveal how strong the human spirit can be under fire.
“When the curtain rises and you hear the audience gasp, you feel something extraordinary. You realize that people from completely different cultures are connecting with the same story. That’s the magic of Shen Yun,” says Piotr Huang, Principal Dancer, Shen Yun Performing Arts.
Practically every major city across the globe sees the ubiquitous Shen Yun posters every year, like clockwork, announcing that year’s upcoming tour. With eight touring companies, each with over thirty performers and thirty musicians, the performances are sold out months in advance in Paris and other world capitals. Over one million people see the worldwide phenomenon annually, and a brand-new show is produced every year.
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UNBROKEN: The Untold Story of Shen Yun will be available to watch free on VOD starting at 7pm ET on March 25 through April 12, 2026, in celebration of the launch of Shen Yun’s 20th Anniversary Season, for its entire engagement at The David H. Koch Theater in New York City, on the following streaming services:
Gan Jing World streaming platform GJW+
NTD on NTD.com
The NTD YouTube Channel
Please share this link or QR code to watch UNBROKEN on GJW+ gjw.us/s/sharesydoc and show your support by posting with #Unbroken #StandWithShenYun.
