(Minghui.org) The San Francisco premiere of the documentary Unbroken: The Untold Story of Shen Yun was held at the Delancy Street Screening Room on August 22, 2026. Several mayors and a candidate for congress attended the screening. Afterwards, many audience members expressed their admiration for the Shen Yun artists who continue spreading traditional culture while facing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) transnational repression. Attendees also condemned the repression.
The documentary Unbroken was screened in San Francisco on August 22, 2026. (Minghui.org)
Shen Yun artists talk with audience during a panel discussion after the screening. (Minghui.org)
More than a hundred guests attended the premiere, including East Palo Alto Mayor Webster Lincoln, Parlier Mayor Alma Beltran, congressional candidate Wendy Huang, as well as corporate executives, people in the fields of art and culture, community leaders, incuding from the Chinese-American community.
Key members of the film’s creative team and Shen Yun artists attended the event in person to share their experiences and reflections during a panel discussion and to answer questions from the audience. Following the discussion, the Shen Yun artists interacted with guests and posed for photos with them on the red carpet.
Steve Lance (right), executive producer of Unbroken, speaks with a member of the audience. (Minghui.org)
Artists are interviewed after the screening. (Minghui.org)
Mayor Alma Beltran: The Documentary Lets People Learn About the Persecution Shen Yun Faces
Alma Beltran, Mayor of Parlier, Fresno County, California, shared her thoughts after she watched the film.
Mayor Alma Beltran (Minghui.org)
Mayor Beltran, who previously issued a proclamation for Shen Yun when it came to Fresno, said, “It’s an amazing performance. I think that more of this should be out there for generations and it shouldn’t stop.”
It was the first time she’s seen the documentary and she said she was touched. She said documentaries are an important way to reveal the truth and they help people to understand. “I think it’s important to get the truth, to get the facts out there,” she said.
Mayor Beltran said that the way Shen Yun artists persist and continue performing despite the pressure and threats requires immense courage.
“We all know when you’re leaders of communities, it takes a lot of courage to stand strong against something that is so powerful,” she said.
Regarding incidents such as the bomb threats mentioned in the film, she said exposing this allowed her to better empathize with the pressure faced by Shen Yun artists.
“This will change as long as we stay strong and focus on change,” she said.
Mayor of East Palo Alto: The Documentary Lets People Know What Happened
Mayor Webster Lincoln of East Palo Alto attended the screening and afterwards shared his thoughts.
Mayor Webster Lincoln (Minghui.org)
Mayor Lincoln said seeing Unbroken was his first opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the issues addressed in the film. He thought the documentary provided a great deal of information he was unaware of, and it also made him realize the importance of the public staying informed about various issues in a timely manner.
“It’s very informative. This is my first time really learning about these issues,” he said.
“You can see that social media is manipulated, there’s bias in the media nowadays. With the internet and the social media, you can go out and tell your own story. I think that’s kind of the importance of doing that.”
He said that, in such an environment, it is crucial for the individuals involved to recount their experiences firsthand. Enabling the public to learn about various aspects of the incident through different channels helps people gain a more comprehensive understanding.
Mayor Lincoln said he hadn’t seen Shen Yun: “I’ve seen the advertising, but I didn’t know what it was about. So this [screening] is getting more of the background story.”
Congressional Candidate: The Film Shows the Courage of Upholding the Truth While Facing Repression
Wendy Huang, a US Congressional candidate and community advocate, attended the premiere. She said that the movie moved her and that it revealed the predicaments faced by those who uphold their faith, speak the truth, and defend freedom in the face of totalitarian oppression.
US Congressional candidate Wendy Huang (Minghui.org)
Wendy Huang, a resident of Union City who previously ran for office in the 14th Congressional District, said that, as an Asian-American woman and a conservative Republican, she faced pressure and attacks during her own campaign, including personal attacks and having her campaign signs vandalized, so the situation faced by the Shen Yun artists depicted in the film really resonated with her.
“It really touches my my heart,” she said. “I see a lot of parallels when you go up against a totalitarian or godless regime. When you want to speak truth, have the freedom to practice your faith, and to not back down, you get some kind of the same patterns of suppression and oppression and also threats.”
The film also inspired her. She said that Shen Yun artists and those who stand up for justice and truth have not backed down; instead, driven by a passion for truth, kindness, and justice, they have persevered. “You see the good side of humanity.”
She said that, as a Christian, her faith reinforces her belief that people should uphold kindness and justice. “We will defeat evil with good, lies with truth, darkness with light, and hate with love.
“Don’t give up, and we we’re right there to back the Shen Yun dancers and the production and all the people who stand for righteousness and justice.”
The Documentary Is Based on Fact
After watching the film, Adriano Naderi, a company president from Santa Clara, said he thought that it was a brilliant documentary.
Adriano Naderi (Minghui.org)
Mr. Naderi said he’s seen Shen Yun five times. After watching Unbroken, he said that the film offered him a different perspective, allowing him to gain a deeper understanding of Shen Yun and the environment the artists face.
“I think the film is a fantastic documentary and is based on the truth and the evidence,” he said.
He said that Unbroken gives the audience a clearer understanding of the story behind Shen Yun and helps him connect Shen Yun’s art with events currently unfolding in China.
He noted that the film specifically highlights the interference tactics employed by the CCP against Shen Yun and that this pressure is not limited to the United States but is occurring in different parts of the world.
He said that he had learned from Shen Yun’s performances about the CCP’s impact on the Chinese people and traditional culture, but this documentary showed him that there were actually deeper factors at play behind the pressure exerted on Shen Yun.
He also had the opportunity to have a group photo with a Shen Yun artist. “It’s a blessing. It only happens once in a lifetime,” he said.
People Stand on Falun Gong’s Side
Shen Yun Performing Arts and its organizers have stated that, during the two-year period from March 30, 2024, to March 30, 2026, the company has faced more than 150 serious threats, including bomb threats against performances, threats of sexual assault and murder directed at staff, and even death threats against the performers’ children.
Chen Chuangchuang (Minghui.org)
Attorney Chen Chuangchuang, who owns a law firm and is a St. John’s University J.D. graduate, said, “In the film, you see parents who have to worry about their children’s safety and face death threats and transnational repression from the CCP. The fact that they managed to persevere is deeply moving.
“I believe there are still many people who will stand on the side of justice, on the side of Falun Gong, and on the side of the pursuit of justice,” he said.
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