Two brothers share a dream of dancing on the world’s biggest stages. Their father worries about whether they will be safe when the curtain rises.
Their story anchors “Shen Yun Unbroken: The Battle Beyond the Stage,” a documentary coming to U.S. movie theaters Jan. 28 and 31, 2027, according to a Nov. 11 news release from Sincere Pictures and Fathom Entertainment.
The two-day theater release will give audiences a look at the New York-based dance company and the threats it has faced while touring the world. Tickets go on sale Dec. 18 online and at participating theater box offices.
The screenings will also feature a look at Shen Yun’s 2027 season, taking viewers behind the scenes as artists prepare costumes, music and dances.
Directed by Fiona Young, the film follows principal dancers Jesse and Lucas Browde and their father, Levi Browde. It was filmed in New York’s Hudson Valley, where Shen Yun trains and builds its productions.
For the Browde family, the risks became deeply personal when bomb threats targeted a theater in Taiwan where the brothers were scheduled to perform.
Levi Browde described the strain of seeing threats reach the places where his children work.
“We all feel the pressure,” he told NTD’s sister media, The Epoch Times, in March.
The documentary pairs the family’s experience with an examination of what its filmmakers describe as a campaign against Shen Yun. It explores allegations involving bomb threats, lawsuits and hostile news coverage. Executive producer Steve Lance leads the film’s reporting into such acts that have been linked to the Chinese Communist Party.
A poster of documentary “Shen Yun Unbroken: The Battle Beyond the Stage.” (Sincere Pictures)From Reporting to a Film
The project began as a special report and grew as the crew followed dancers, visited performance venues and watched training sessions.
Lance recalled seeing dancers warm up before a 2025 performance at Lincoln Center. Their focus and skill helped shape his understanding of the company, he told The Epoch Times.
“These aren’t people that are trying to make a name for themselves,” he said.
Founded in 2006, the company was formed to revive traditional Chinese culture and draw attention to human rights abuses in China.
First Look at Next Season
The theater release will coincide with Shen Yun’s 2027 world tour and arrive ahead of Chinese New Year.
The bonus footage will show how the company brings its productions together, including choreography, costume work, its live orchestra, and a large digital backdrop. Shen Yun artists will host that portion of the program.
In a promotional video announcing the film’s release, Lance said the theatrical setting adds to the film’s impact.
“I think this film is really made for the big screen. It’s a powerful story, and the visuals are incredible. You get a completely different experience seeing it in a theater, and I’m excited for audiences to experience that.”
Sincere Pictures, which operates under the NTD Television umbrella, is partnering with Fathom on the release.
From NTD News
